EPA Sustainable Environment Research Planning Workshop

Transcription

1 Sustainable Environment Research Planning Workshop EPA Sustainable Environment Research Planning Workshop Wednesday September 25th 2013 Clyde Court Hotel, Lansdowne Road, Dublin Tadhg O'Mahony EPA Office of Environmental Assessment SEA Section

2 Outline of Presentation EPA Strategic Plan Directive European Environment State and Outlook EU Biodiversity Strategy Irelands Environment- An Assessment Irelands National Biodiversity Plan EU Directives Role of SEA Research Projects Current and Future Themes & Suggestions Case Study: Gordon Daly -Clare County Council, Sheila Downes - RPS

3 EPA Strategic Plan Working with Others- Biodiversity: DAHG NPWS DECLG DAFM DCENR Heritage Council Local Authorities Marine Institute Inland Fisheries Ireland Sectors NGOs Third Level Institutes Wider Public etc.

4 Overall Strategic Mission To protect and improve the environment as a valuable asset for the people of Ireland

5 Overall Strategic Vision A clean, healthy and well protected environment supporting a sustainable society and economy

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7 EPA Strategic Plan WHAT WE DO KNOWLEDGE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Evidence Based Decision Making Research Programme Environmental Goals Limiting and Adapting to Climate Change Clean Air Protected Water Courses Protected Soil and Biodiversity Sustainable use of Resources Integration and Enforcement

8 Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services European Environment STATE and OUTLOOK 2010 Climate Change Nature and Biodiversity Natural Resources and Waste Environment Health and Quality of Life

9 European Environment STATE and OUTLOOK 2010 A L L A S P E C T S L I N K E D Links between Environmental Challenges

10 EU Biodiversity Strategy

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12 6 Targets for 2020 Full implementation of EU Nature legislation Better protection and restoration of Ecosystems and the Services they provide and greater use of Green Infrastructure More sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Better management of EU fish stocks Tighter control on Invasive Alien species A greater EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss

13 Target 1- Fully implement the Birds and Habitats Directives Action 1 - Complete the N2K Network and ensure good management Action 3 - Increase stakeholder awareness and involvement and improve enforcement Action 1b Further integrate species and habitat protection and management requirements into key land use and water policies both within and beyond Natura 2000 sites Action 4 - Improve and streamline monitoring and reporting

14 EU Biodiversity Strategy Targets Image by Cian O Mahony

15 Target 2 - Maintain and restore Ecosystems and their Services Action 5 Action 5 - Improve Knowledge of Ecosystems and their Services Action 6 - Set priorities to restore Ecosystems Action 7- Ensure no net loss of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Member States to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services by 2014 including the economic value of such services Consider RBD Approach

16 EU Biodiversity Strategy Targets

17 Target 5 - Combat Invasive Alien Species Are we underestimating the rate of spread of some Invasives - Survey, Control, Eradication Follow up Action 15 Strengthen the EU Plant and Animal Health Regimes Action 16 Establish a dedicated legislative instrument on Invasive Alien Species

18 Ireland s Environment 2012 Key Future Biodiversity Challenges & Actions Loss of Biodiversity Greater Integration of Biodiversity Considerations Improved linkages between Sector Plans Engage and empower local communities Improved Information and Indicators to facilitate Evidence Based Decision making Assign Economic Value of Ecosystem Services and into national accounting and reporting

19 Ireland s Environment 2012 Key Future Challenges & Actions Protected Soil and Biodiversity

20 Ireland s National Biodiversity Plan Actions for Biodiversity The Vision: That biodiversity and ecosystems in Ireland are conserved and restored, delivering benefits essential for all sectors of society and that Ireland contributes to efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems in the EU and globally. The Overarching Target of this Plan, based on the actions which follow is: That biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystems are reduced by 2016 and progress is made towards substantial recovery by Huge Challenge for all Stakeholders

21 Ireland s National Biodiversity Plan STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE 1: To mainstream biodiversity in the decision making process across all sectors OBJECTIVE 2: To substantially strengthen the knowledge base for conservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity OBJECTIVE 3: To increase awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystems services OBJECTIVE 4/5: To conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider countryside and the marine environment OBJECTIVE 6: To expand and improve on the management of protected areas and legally protected species OBJECTIVE 7: To substantially strengthen the effectiveness of international governance for biodiversity and ecosystem services

22 Some Key EU Directives Biodiversity related Habitats Floods SEA Water Framework Environmental Liabilities Marine Strategy Framework Directive

23 SEA Directive - Objective to provide for a high level of protection of the environment to contribute to the Integration of Environmental Considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting Sustainable Development by ensuring that an Environmental Assessment is carried out of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment

24 Sectors Subject to SEA Requirements Flood Risk Management Plans Onshore/Offshore Renewable Energy National Forest Policy Review WasTe TranSport WaTer TouRism PlAnning FishEries.. EnerGy Industry TeleCommunications ForEstry National Raised Bogs SAC Management Plan Agriculture Wild Atlantic Way National Strategic Aquaculture Plan National Rural Development Programme

25 SEA Environmental Topics Inter relationships and Biodiversity Air Climatic Factors Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna Water Soils, Geology Landscape Population Human Health Cultural Heritage - Archaeology, Architecture Joined up thinking & Research Understanding Interactions Ecosystem Services Integrated Assessments

26 SEA Activity per Sector Total 364: Land Use ~81% Water ~6% Energy ~ 5% Fisheries ~3% All Others ~ 5% Significant Potential for Cumulative Effects

27 Ireland the Real Map - Our National Natural Capital Oil and Gas Exploration ~220 Million Acres Sea Offshore Renewable Energy ~20 Million Acres Land Vast Resource Huge Challenges Major Opportunities Fisheries

28 Some Issues/ Challenges Border Region Forum WATER MANAGEMENT- Quality/ Flood Risk Renewable Energy Wind Energy/ Offshore Renewables Hydraulic Fracturing -Fracking Regional Approaches- Landscape/ Renewables Transboundary Aspects Forestry, Fisheries Agriculture Quarries Biodiversity - Peatlands- SACs/ NHAs

29 Case Study Shannon Integrated Framework Plan (3) Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary

30 Clare CDP Mid West RPG Limerick City DP Kerry CDP Regional Planning Guidlines 2 Regional Plans 4 County Plans 1 Significant Local Plan 7 SEAs/AAs South West RPG Limerick County DP Shannon Foynes Port Master Plan

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32 Shannon Integrated Framework Plan

33 Biodiversity Designations SAC/SPA Ireland s only resident population of bottlenosed dolphins Dunlins, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank Internationally Important Numbers.

34 Shannon Estuary Simon Berrow SDWF

35 Waterbody Status

36 Possible Areas for Development

37 The Plan An inter-jurisdictional Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary

38 INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SHANNON ESTUARY Shannon Estuary Environmental Plans Habitats & FRMP Birds Directives WFD Directive Shannon IRBD Flood Directive Shannon CFRAMS Coastal Zone Management SAC/SPA Management Plan SAC/ SPA Dredge Management Plan RBMP Marine Spatial Planning

39 Some Completed Biodiversity related Research BIOFOREST AGBIOTA BIOCHANGE SIMBIOSYS BOGLAND IBIA Potential to positively influence Biodiversity Impact of Sectors Appropriate Mechanisms for Knowledge Transfer Need to Know your End users from outset Targeted outputs to reflect audience

40 Some Key Ongoing & Proposed Biodiversity & Soils related Research ECO PLAN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES APPROACH TO Green Infrastructure ECORISK- Environmental Liabilities Directive related SEA KPI Fellowship- measuring outcomes of SEA Climate Adaptation and SEA Fellowship ISIS Irish Soil Information System

41 Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services including Soils and Biodiversity Three Key Areas of Research Needs Evaluation and Assessment of Our Natural Capital Managing and Potecting of our Natural Capital Governance and Behavioural Changes

42 Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services: Evaluation and Assessment of our Natural Capital Some Research Gaps Mapping and valuing the ecosystems we rely on Role of GIS Evaluation of Green Infrastructure- information Gaps Assessment of wider function of GI including Ecosystem Services to support National, regional and local plans Policy frameworks to promote investment in Natural Capital Development of tracking tool for biodiversity related expenditure/ support mechanisms to improve effectiveness of funding

43 Dublin City Biodiversity Resources

44 South East RPGs Environmental Spatial Strategy

45 Fingal CC Green Infrastructure Mapping

46 Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services: Managing and Protecting our Natural Capital Some Research Gaps Improved knowledge of the relationships between ecosystem properties size/ area- and ecosystem functions Invasive Alien Species- Management and Control tool Sectoral Impacts on our Natural Capital Development of Knowledge on thresholds/ tipping points in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem services Development of tools to incorporate GI into RBMPs/ FRMP/ MSP etc. Development of tools to incorporate biodiversity- species and habitats with conservation concerns - into Regional/ Local Land Use Plans and projects

47 Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services: Governance and Behavioural Changes Some Research Research Gaps Communicating Biodiversity to a wider audience Preparation of GI Guidelines for Planners and developers Green Infrastructure Planning- Identifying Opportunities/ Strategic Planning Integration of GI concept in Infrastructure Planning Local Studies -Identification at a landscape level spatially defined areas for Ecosystem Services Management and Conservation

48 More than 2,000 volunteer observers are participating in bird surveys in Ireland Image Birdwatch Ireland

49 Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services: Communicating Biodiversity to a Wider Audience The Role of the Media: National and Regional Press Mooney Goes Wild National and Regional Radio TV/ Film Web Social Media The Role of: NGOs Statutory Bodies Printed Media Circulation: Irish Times: 84, 210 Irish Independent: 121, 120 Irish Examiner: 37, 897 Massive Opportunity, however, All Down Significantly ~20-30% Since 2006 Notice Nature NBDC Irish Times Michael Viney Irish Examiner Donal Hickey

50 Natural Capital, Ecosystem Services and the Arts Painting Poetry Prose Music Song Dance Folklore Archive Film Bog Cotton on Enismore Bog" by Jmmy Deenihan, T.D. Painted at Cill Rialaig, Significant opportunity to engage

51 Natural Capital, Ecosystem Services and the Arts & the Media Painting Poetry Prose Music Song Dance Folklore Valuing our Natural Capital is not newnow more important and needs to be more scientific and more evidence based. Archive Film Film Archive Launch Amuigh Faoin Speir

52 from Death of a Naturalist 1966.There were dragon flies, spotted butterflies, But best of all was the warm thick slobber Of frogspawn that grew like clotted water In the shadow of the banks... You could tell the weather by frogs too For they were yellow in the sun and brown In rain. Photo: Robert Thompson Seamus Heaney