BirdWatch Ireland

(AL) BirdWatch Ireland welcomes the €172 million package for nature and heritage announced as part of Budget 2025 this week, emphasising that the commitment to nature must be continued every year and by successive governments in order to turn the tide on biodiversity loss. Read our full response to the measures for nature announced in #Budget2025 👇 https://lnkd.in/e-We-aF8

(AL) Our Marine team joined fellow NGOs at the Ocean Lab in the EU Parliament for #EUOceanWeek yesterday. Here, they engaged with MEPs on five critical topics: pollution and health, biodiversity and climate change, energy transition, fisheries and food, and the sustainable blue economy and just transition. As part of this, it was fantastic to get the opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss marine protection with other NGOs, too. Sitting at the Biodiversity and Climate Change table, our Marine Policy and Advocacy Officer, Rosalind Skillen spoke with Sarah Tilkin from Natuurpunt - an organisation which aims to protect and restore the vulnerable and endangered nature in Flanders.

(AL) Our Marine team joined fellow NGOs at the Ocean Lab in the EU Parliament for #EUOceanWeek yesterday. Here, they engaged with MEPs on five critical topics: pollution and health, biodiversity and climate change, energy transition, fisheries and food, and the sustainable blue economy and just transition. As part of this, it was fantastic to get the opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss marine protection with other NGOs, too. Sitting at the Biodiversity and Climate Change table, our Marine Policy and Advocacy Officer, Rosalind Skillen spoke with Sarah Tilkin from Natuurpunt - an organisation which aims to protect and restore the vulnerable and endangered nature in Flanders.

(AL) Our Marine Policy Officer, Rosalind Skillen, and Marine Spatial Planning Officer, Rochelle Streker recently landed in Brussels for Ocean Week 🌊 The jam-packed week of meetings and events kicked off with the European Parliament launch of the Blue Manifesto - a science-based roadmap which lays out concrete actions to guide the EU in restoring marine life. Supported by a growing network of 140 organisations, the Blue Manifesto is a blueprint for saving the ocean and securing a healthy future for our planet. BirdLife International BirdLife Europe and Central Asia

(AL) Our Marine Policy Officer, Rosalind Skillen, and Marine Spatial Planning Officer, Rochelle Streker recently landed in Brussels for Ocean Week 🌊 The jam-packed week of meetings and events kicked off with the European Parliament launch of the Blue Manifesto - a science-based roadmap which lays out concrete actions to guide the EU in restoring marine life. Supported by a growing network of 140 organisations, the Blue Manifesto is a blueprint for saving the ocean and securing a healthy future for our planet. BirdLife International BirdLife Europe and Central Asia

(AL) In recent weeks, BirdWatch Ireland welcomed the opportunity to help shape the future of wildlife legislation by making a submission to the public consultation on the review and update of Ireland’s wildlife laws. This consultation was the first in a multi-stage process aimed at strengthening legislation to better protect biodiversity. Our submission contains many recommendations for legislative changes that support biodiversity, align with EU law and are practical and easily understood by all. Read more about the legislation review and see our submission in full 👇👇👇 https://lnkd.in/ednd2y4b

(AL) 🌊 A powerful wave of ocean advocates from all corners of the country made their voices heard in Dublin today at the Rally for Ireland's Seas outside Leinster House. Despite many repeated promises, we’re still waiting for our elected leaders to publish and enact the MPA bill, and we must ensure that happens before the General Election in March 2025 to avoid an even longer delay. So, we decided to bring the momentum right to the Government’s doorstep with a colourful and energetic rally! 📢 Inspiring speeches were delivered by Flossie from Flossie And The Beach Cleaners, Karin Dubsky from Coastwatch, and both Jack and Donal from Fair Seas. 🎉 To draw the day to a close, Fair Seas will host an Ocean Afterparty and film screening with friends at Patagonia at 24-26 Exchequer Street at 6:30 pm tonight. It will be free to attend, and open to all.

All of us at BirdWatch Ireland are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing yesterday of our friend and colleague Steve Wing, on his beloved Cape Clear Island. Steve was the Wildlife Officer at our Cape Clear Bird Observatory for many years and, as anyone lucky enough to have met him will know, a truly lovely, kind man. We will be paying a full tribute to him and his life very soon and would like to express our deepest condolences to his friends and family at this very sad and difficult time. May he rest in peace.

(AL) We are living in an ever-changing world and there’s no doubt that the coming years will present both opportunities and challenges for the planet, the economy and society as a whole. Preparing our 2024-2030 Strategy has given us the opportunity to look ahead and set goals that align with our mission to be a strong and influential leader for nature conservation in Ireland, while being cognisant of the many factors that will no doubt influence a conservation charity like ours. We are proud to now present this Strategy to the wider public, offering a clear sense of the direction in which we wish to take BirdWatch Ireland over the coming years. Take a look here 👇 https://lnkd.in/ehwcCBbv

📣 The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is working to review and update wildlife legislation. BirdWatch Ireland is in the process of drafting our submission, and we encourage all our BirdWatch Ireland members, allies and supporters to do the same. The purpose of updating the legislation is to ensure that it works better for wildlife, for biodiversity and for the public. Through this consultation, YOU have the opportunity to make your voice heard on these matters. The deadline is Friday, September 13th. Learn more about the consultation and how to make a submission 👇 https://lnkd.in/e9Mb7mbH