€20m EU scheme to protect Irish water quality
A new scheme funded with more than €20m will be implemented across 25,000 hectares of Irish farmland, and 1,265 hectares of privately and publicly owned forestry land, demonstrating how to protect and enhance high-status waters.
It was launched this week by the European Commission representation in Ireland.
Co-ordinated by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the LIFE-IP Waters of Life scheme will test and validate locally-tailored best practice measures.
The number of high-status water bodies subject to intervention will be determined, and measures implemented on demonstration catchments across about 750sq km of Irish river basins.
Another objective of the scheme is more sustainable land use, agriculture and forestry, on the targeted hectares.
Additional results will include improved habitats and biodiversity, with 2,500 hectares of grassland and 780 hectares of blanket bog targeted to be improved or restored, or to have favourable conservation status, and a 10% reduction in invasive alien species.
Improved economic performance is expected in project areas, with 33.5 full-time jobs created, where no water catchment management jobs existed before.
It is hoped the measures used will be replicated in at least four river basin catchments in Ireland alone, and in other countries, if suitable.
Communication, dissemination, and awareness-raising activities are planned to reach 14,000 individuals and entities, including at least 70% of study area residents, resulting in increased involvement in river basin action plans, and a 70% change in behaviour within the agricultural sector.
Loss of high-status waters has been identified as an important issue in Ireland and across Europe.
The new scheme will build understanding and capacity for measures to protect high-status waters; ensure local community and landowner involvement; inform development of future agri-environment and forestry policies, among other aims.
In addition to delivering Ireland’s obligations under the EU Water Framework Directive, the Waters of LIFE scheme will fit in with the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Flood Directive, and the Nitrates Directive.
European Commission sources said it is expected that Ireland would successfully reverse the trend in decline of high-status water bodies, following implementation of the scheme.
Expected to run to the end of 2026, the scheme has a budget of €20.4 million, of which the EU contribution is €9.5m, with complementary funding expected from other EU and national funds and the private sector.
The European Commission Representation in Ireland also announced the launch of an EU-funded environmental project to restore Ireland’s blanket bogs.
Called the Wild Atlantic Nature programme, it aims to protect and restore 24 blanket bog Natura areas in the north and west. Over centuries, peat cutting, reclamation, burning, drainage, invasive species, afforestation, over or under grazing, and recreational and infrastructural developments have depleted the area of healthy blanket bog.
The scheme will involve removal of encroaching trees and shrubs, blockage of drains to raise water levels, and improvement of fire management measures.
Co-ordinated by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Wild Atlantic Nature project will run until 2029, and will benefit from over €12m of EU funding.
