We pay lip service to ecology

ONE of the many ironies of Irish life is that most people — 97%, according to an EU Commission survey — agree we have a responsibility to protect nature. 

Yet, our government frequently finds itself before the European Court of Justice for breaches of environment regulations.

It’s national Heritage Week and thousands of people are taking part in walks, talks, and other events to celebrate the natural world. But how good are we at guarding it?

We project a ‘green’ and ‘unspoilt’ image. The Wild Atlantic Way is our most successful tourism promotion for years and is clearly being enjoyed by visitors — that’s when they can see the sights.

Magnificent landscape along the west coast is blighted by one-off houses and holiday homes, which obstruct the sea and cliff views. Just look at what’s happening on the Dingle Peninsula, in Connemara, and in parts of Clare and Donegal.

We hardly need to repeat stories of vanishing wildlife, such as the curlew, the corncrake, wild salmon and other fish, pollution in rivers and lakes, boil notices for contaminated drinking water, and the destruction of boglands.

Conifers are being harvested in many scenic areas, leaving ugly, muddy scars on elevated moorland. Hopefully, a lesson has been learned and native forests, which could provide incomes and a home for wildlife, will supplant conifers.

Every year, large-scale burning of thousands of acres on hillsides has dire consequences for wild animals and plants. However, rarely is anyone prosecuted for such blatant breaches of the wildlife laws. It’s hard to blame people for being sceptical, when state bodies say our environment is not in a bad condition after all.

On a positive note, understanding of heritage has improved in the last decade, up from 21% to 45%, according to a Heritage Council survey. More than 70% of people agree that castles, and other monuments, constitute heritage, but they are less certain (around 40%) when it comes to landscape and wildlife.

A finding that jolts is that few people see it as their personal responsibility to protect our heritage: they think that’s the government’s job! But, we cannot depend on the government.

In his excellent new book, Whittled Away, ecologist, Padraic Fogarty, writes that the time is right for a new relationship with the natural world here. “I yearn for politicians to talk about wildlife as though it was as important as health, education, or roads. Some countries, such as France, have a minister for ecology and their politicians talk comfortably about the importance of nature to the country’s well-being,’’ he says.