A National Biodiversity Expenditure Review for Ireland

Ireland’s natural environment is in trouble. The most recent national assessment of the status of EU protected habitats and species reveals that 91% of 58 major habitat types are in unfavourable condition (NPWS, 2013). Of this proportion, 41% are described as ‘bad’ and another 50% as ‘inadequate’. Although by comparison, 12% of species are listed as being in ‘bad’ status and 20% as ‘inadequate’, these figures include some formerly common species such as the freshwater pearl mussel. The Irish Red List of birds of most conservation concern lists 37 species, including once familiar birds such as the curlew and yellowhammer.