United for Nature – IAC Bridges Divides with Bold Recommendations for Nature Restoration
Today’s launch of the IAC recommendations underlines that nature restoration is a common cause uniting all of Irish society. The government must now match the leadership shown by farmers, fishers, NGOs, and communities nationwide.
Author: Fintan Kelly is the Senior Land Use Officer with the Environmental Pillar, one of the twelve members on the Independent Advisory Committee.
Following the passing of the Nature Restoration Law at EU level, focus shifted to the national stage, where Ireland must now map out how and where nature restoration will become a reality on the ground and at sea.
While the NRL enjoyed overwhelming public and political support in Ireland, the adoption of the law was not without controversy. Influential farming organisations had refused to back the law, raising questions: how can ambitious restoration be achieved and could key stakeholders be converted from sceptics to champions?
Ireland recognised that change must come from the bottom up; an ambitious grassroots engagement campaign was mobilised, gathering the views of ordinary people around the country through town hall community conversations, while mobilising key stakeholders through Leaders’ Forums. The Independent Advisory Committee was established to tell it straight to Minister O’Sullivan—what needs to be done, drawing on the views of the Irish people, expert insights, and groundwork by officials.
The Committee, ably chaired by Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, brought together representatives from the farming, forestry, and fishing sectors, environmental NGOs, academics, and public bodies. We worked diligently in a collaborative and collegiate way, listening to each other’s concerns and bridging divides, ultimately finding common ground to achieve ambitious nature restoration that respects all voices.
Our recommendations demonstrate that all stakeholders want to turn the tide on biodiversity collapse. If given the right support, farmers, fishers and foresters aren’t just ready, they are eager to lead from the front. Our recommendations aren’t a procedural exercise, they represent the hope and grá don dúlra of the Irish people, providing an overwhelming mandate to government and a clear roadmap to achieve ambitious nature restoration in partnership with communities and custodians.
Our three priority recommendations, which will be fundamental to the success of the Nature Restoration Plan, are to:
- Fund nature restoration—with dedicated, long-term financial commitments.
- Prioritise action on public lands—leading from the front by managing public lands in the public interest.
- Support farmers, fishers, and foresters—empowering our custodians on land and at sea.
Political leadership, especially the mobilisation of dedicated long-term financial support, will be critical to making nature restoration a reality. It is of serious concern to all involved that we have seen little action from the government to date to fund the plan. The onus is now on all of government to carry forward the ambition of the IAC and match the leadership of all those who have contributed to the recommendations.
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