Wildlife key part of heritage

I’M loathe to rise to Cormac MacConnell’s bait (Farming, September 1), but as Ireland’s largest wildlife conservation charity we cannot allow his comments to go unchecked.

It is unfortunate that Mr MacConnell has borne a grudge against corncrakes since childhood. Thankfully, Ireland’s wildlife protection needs are not dictated by his personal feelings; they are dictated instead by a desire to protect our natural heritage, both for its own intrinsic value and for the massive benefits we all receive from ecosystem services. They are also dictated by EU legislation, international biodiversity commitments and the need to ensure the sustainability of our own food supplies and the health of our own environment.

For too long Ireland has ignored its appalling environmental protection record and the negative effects of this on our tourist industry. Now, more than ever, we should be shouting about our island’s unique wildlife from the rooftops, not dismissing it and denigrating it at every turn. It is a key part of this nation’s heritage, and deserves the same level of respect and appreciation that we quite rightly give to Ireland’s music, literature and other cultural jewels. It is also a soft target, and one that is very easily hit by ill-informed commentators who don’t appreciate the damage they can do.

BirdWatch Ireland is not responsible for public expenditure on corncrake conservation: that comes under the remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Money spent in this way does not just benefit corncrakes alone. It helps to conserve native flora and fauna, improves the health of our wider environment, increases our tourism potential and directly benefits hard-pressed farmers and their families who are struggling for survival every bit as much as the corncrake.

Alan Lauder

Chief Executive

BirdWatch Ireland

Bullford Business Campus

Kilcoole

Co Wicklow