Government to step up protected lands for wildlife

DESPITE a 25% increase in the corncrake population, reported by Birdwatch Ireland, farmers can expect little let-up in the Government’s drive to protect lands for wildlife.

The Government are still under severe pressure to protect more habitats and wildlife species, having received three further final written warnings from the European Commission.

One of the warnings concerned the continuing failure of Ireland to meet its obligations under the Wild Birds Directive, to protect the habitats of rare and endangered wild bird species such as the corncrake, the chough and the hen harrier.