Hen harrier plan is slated by Irish nature agencies

National nature agencies have said the Irish government’s plan to save their population of hen harriers is “vague and lacking in detail and ambition”.

BirdWatch Ireland, the Environmental Pillar and An Taisce — the National Trust for Ireland — have heavily criticised the government’s Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan, branding it “a failed opportunity to urgently put in place the necessary measures to prevent the extinction of an iconic birdof prey species”.

The Irish government’s plan has been in the works for more than a decade, during which time Ireland’s hen harrier population has declined by a third. Yet, despite the years of work that have gone into developing the plan, the consortium of nature agencies have said it fails to meet the legal requirements required. They added that it is highly unlikely to press pause on the decline of the hen harrier population due to a lack of defined targets or measurable timelines for delivery.

The loss of habitat for nesting, foraging and other pressures associated with upland afforestation is one of the main threats to hen harriers. Although the plan recognises this, it fails to set out a mechanism for restoration of the habitats needed for the recovery of the species.

At the launch of the plan in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Co Laois, Minister of State for Nature Malcolm Noonan said: “The publication of the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to prevent the extinction of our precious ‘skydancer’. It’s vital that we now focus urgently and strategically on implementation. We must seize the opportunities presented in this plan to deliver meaningful change to the management of our landscapes and protect our most vulnerable species.”

Dr Elaine McGoff, Environmental Pillar spokeswoman and head of advocacy with An Taisce, said: “Our role has always been to act as advocates for the best outcomes for the hen harrier, its habitats and the farming communities that support it. 

“The current draft plan and the status of the hen harrier and its habitats represents an unacceptable failure by the state to deliver on both Irish and EU law in respect of the species and its habitats. We will not allow the government to quietly quit on this incredible bird species.”