News

Minister O’Sullivan Announces Major Nature Conservation Milestones in Northwest of Ireland

Date Released: Thursday, May 8, 2025

• Acquisition of one of the most significant corncrake breeding site in Ireland on the Belmullet peninsula
• Launch of New Natura Communities Initiative which aims to improve conservation in the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) network of blanket bogs

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD has announced the purchase of one of the area’s most prolific corncrake breeding sites on the Belmullet peninsula. The site, 5.75ha in size, provides the perfect habitat for Corncrake; including protection and a sustainable food source. 

The Minister said:

“This site was a mushroom factory, it’s now a Corncrake factory. It maintains 25% of the local corncrake population, and is of huge, strategic importance to the survival of the species. By purchasing the site, we’re making a further commitment to protect it. The site lends itself well to research and education due to location, road access and scale, and will enhance conservation management already underway.” 

“Over the past five years, the Corncrake population has increased by 35%, and here in Mayo the population has doubled. These impressive results are testament to the collaboration here on the Mullet Peninsula between farmers, landowners, Corncrake LIFE and the NPWS. It has become a model for community-focused nature conservation, and I’m delighted that this important work will continue once the project comes to an end.” 

A special event was held to launch the Natura Communities initiative, hosted by the Wild Atlantic Nature Project, and attended by Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Alan Dillon TD, the European Commission along with local community partners. 

Minister Dillon said:

"Today's announcement marks a significant step forward in our commitment to preserving Ireland's natural heritage. The acquisition of the corncrake breeding site on the Belmullet peninsula and the launch of the Natura Communities Initiative are testaments to our dedication to conservation. By working together with local communities, farmers, and environmental organisations, we are not only protecting vital habitats but also ensuring a sustainable future for our biodiversity. These efforts highlight the importance of collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and demonstrate our resolve to safeguard our natural environment for generations to come."

In paying tribute to the Wild Atlantic Nature project, which won the European Commission’s Natura 2000 ‘Working together for nature’ award last year, Minister O’Sullivan added:

“Collaboration is key to dealing with complex environmental issues, and has contributed to the success of all three LIFE projects. Recognition from the European Commission through this Award should encourage us to continue with this approach.”

“All over Ireland, I’ve seen the efforts by farmers and local communities to protect and conserve nature, while providing a future for themselves and their families. Through the creation of locally-led nature conservation projects that deliver good employment opportunities, we can open up possibilities for positive change.”

The Natura Communities initiative aims to improve the conservation status in the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) network of blanket bogs, a priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive.  The project is led by Wild Atlantic Nature, and focuses on 35 Natura 2000 sites in the northwest of Ireland, working with farmers, landowners, policy-makers and others to deliver solutions that benefit local communities and the environment.

The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. In Mayo, the NPWS leads three LIFE projects (Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP, Corncrake LIFE and LIFE on Machair) partnering with other bodies to protect and restore Europe’s nature in the areas of biodiversity, habitats and species.

Minister O’Sullivan also commended a project at Annagh Marsh managed by the LIFE on Machair project, which aims to restore some of Europe’s most unique coastal habitats and protect breeding waders and pollinators. The significant NPWS funded nest protection fence was replaced and upgraded in collaboration with LIFE on Machair, Birdwatch Ireland and the landowners to conserve the unique Machair habitat, known for breeding wader birds and pollinators. The LIFE on Machair project has involved significant community engagement with over 300 farmers, schools and community groups working with the project.

Minister O’Sullivan said:

“These special coastal grasslands hold enormous biodiversity value. Collaborative approaches like these are the best way to deliver real and enduring results for nature that are good for people as well as wildlife.”

Niall Ó Donnchú, NPWS Director General said:

“LIFE Projects have been essential in supporting strong community engagement and incentivising nature conservation at community level. These projects are helping us to meet our obligations at European level, but also to build capacity in NPWS to undertake our conservation work with a strong spirit of partnership.” 

Further Information

Corncrake LIFE: aims to improve the conservation status in Ireland of the Corncrake by the enhancement of the Special Protection Area (SPA) network and surrounding farmland. This project takes place on 8 project sites (in 9 SPAs and adjacent supporting farmland).

The most recent survey from the National Parks and Wildlife Service shows an increase of 35% in the corncrake population in the past five years. The numbers of corncrakes recorded in Co. Mayo has almost doubled in the past five years.

LIFE on Machair is a six year EU funded project running from 2022 to 2028. The project was developed to work with farmers, landowners and local communities in a bid to protect and restore Ireland’s network of Machair systems and associated breeding wader and pollinator communities. There are nine target areas in the project, ranging from Connemara and South Mayo, to Erris in north west Mayo, and Gweedore and Horn Head in Donegal. For more information visit (https://www.lifeonmachair.ie/)

The LIFE on Machair project is being coordinated by the NPWS through collaboration with project partners the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Teagasc and Fáilte Ireland.

Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE Integrated Project (IP) is a nine-year environmental project (2021-2029) led by the NPWS. It aims to improve Ireland’s performance in conserving habitats, and in particular to improve the conservation status in the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Network of blanket bog, a priority habitat under the Habitats Directive. The primary focus is on 35 Natura 2000 sites in the northwest of Ireland. The project works with farmers and local communities to conserve and improve the quality of blanket bogs and associated habitats, and the ecosystem services they provide including clean water, carbon storage and biodiversity. For more information visit: (https://www.wildatlanticnature.ie/)

Natura Communities is an initiative that has been piloted in Ireland since 2022 by the EU-funded Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP of NPWS The initiative has been developed to help deliver wetland and other ecosystem restoration at the local level including input from Local Authorities via Biodiversity Officers and/or Climate Action teams. Presently, approximately 40 locally-based and trained staff are employed by the three existing Wild Atlantic Nature Natura Communities groups operating in Galway, Mayo and Donegal, with the objective of expanding the initiative across Ireland, North and South.