News
Minister O’Sullivan publishes new report on the status of Ireland’s EU-Protected Habitats and Species
Date Released: Thursday, December 11, 2025
- Increased investment from government and targeted conservation efforts show early positive signs.
- First major assessment of protected habitats and species since 2019.
The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, has today published The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland, 2025: Summary Report, commonly referred to as the Article 17 Report. Published every six years, it presents a comprehensive overview of the conservation status of the 59 habitats and 60 species in Ireland that are protected under the EU Habitats Directive.
The Article 17 assessments are based on data gathered from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland monitoring and conservation measure programmes, supplemented by information from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and other relevant sources.
The report shows early signs of recovery in areas where focused conservation efforts have been made, with 9% of habitats showing improving trends. There are further positive findings for species, with 58% in ‘favourable’ conservation status and over two-thirds showing either stable or improving trends. However the 2025 report also finds that 90% of Ireland’s protected habitats are in ‘unfavourable’ conservation status, while 51% are showing deteriorating trends across their national ranges, which includes sites that are designated as Special Areas of Conservation as well as the wider countryside.
Commenting on the findings, Minister O’Sullivan said:
“Given the huge efforts to turn the tide on biodiversity loss in recent years, these will be disappointing findings for many – but we cannot lose hope. This report is evidence that targeted conservation and restoration actions do deliver positive outcomes. We must be heartened by the huge effort underway across all corners of the country to protect and restore our natural world, and remind ourselves of the need for patience: while nature can bounce back quickly, the recovery of habitats and species to the high standards set out in the Habitats Directive can take time. We must also redouble our commitment to nature by continuing investment, strengthening collaboration and improving delivery as we strive to stop the loss of biodiversity and move towards a future where it is protected and restored. In the context of the Nature Restoration Law, this will mean working with colleagues across Government to improve partnerships and resourcing, including with agencies, local authorities and landowners, and I am committed to delivering on this.”
Over the past number of years, Government investment in the protection of nature has ramped up significantly, complemented by large scale European projects to protect species and habitats.
This includes a significant growth in the National Parks and Wildlife Service through an organisational renewal programme. Annual funding for the NPWS increased from €28.7 million in 2020 to €100 million as part of Budget 2026. Staff capacity within the NPWS has also increased by 68% during this time.
Additionally, closer cooperation across Government departments has ensured that biodiversity and nature considerations are embedded across wider national policy areas, including climate, agriculture, water and land use. Meanwhile, targeted programmes have been successful, such as NPWS initiatives to protect the Lesser Horseshoe Bat, as have agricultural schemes such as LIFE Programmes, EIPs and the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, all of which play an important role in supporting private landowners to take action to protect habitats and species. The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) under the Common Agricultural Policy is playing a key role as it offers targeted actions for farmers, particularly in areas dominated by semi-natural vegetation and Natura 2000 sites.
The main aim of the EU Habitats Directive is to contribute towards the conservation of biodiversity by requiring Member States to take measures to maintain or restore natural habitats and wild species listed on the Directive at a favourable conservation status. The habitats and species have been listed because they are considered vulnerable at a European level.
Minister O’Sullivan added:
“While the scale of the challenge is significant, these results prove that where we act, we can make a difference. Targeted conservation work in communities across the country is beginning to reverse negative trends. Peatland restoration programmes and collaboration have driven improving trends for Raised Bog and associated habitats. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan has made a major impact on the expansion of Hay Meadows. There is also good news for the Otter, Pine Marten, Common frog and seals, as well as several plant and bat species, all of which are continuing to thrive in Ireland. We have a long way to go, but we are starting to get a clearer picture of what’s working and where to focus our efforts. This is exactly the kind of evidence base we need as we look ahead to Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan.”
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the NPWS, said:
“Nature cannot be rebuilt in a day, nor, in many cases, even in a decade. The real time to begin was yesterday. And though today’s findings may feel disheartening, they also reveal the quiet but powerful momentum of nature and species renewal already underway.”
The report’s findings will help to guide the implementation of Ireland’s National Biodiversity Action Plan and inform future restoration programmes including the national Nature Restoration Plan required by the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. There will be a continued focus on ecological monitoring and collaboration across public bodies to enhance the scientific rigour associated with this assessment process.
The full 2025 Summary Report, along with detailed scientific assessments and datasets, is available on the NPWS website.
Further Information
About the Habitats Directive
The EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) is a key piece of European nature legislation designed to protect threatened habitats and species across the EU. It established the Natura 2000 network of protected areas and requires Member States to ensure that listed habitats and species achieve and maintain a Favourable Conservation Status.
About the Article 17 Report
The Article 17 report is based on the six-year assessment required under the EU Habitats Directive, summarising the conservation status, trends, and threats for all protected habitats and species across their natural range. These Article 17 reports provide the most comprehensive national picture of biodiversity protected under EU law. The results feed into an EU-wide assessment and help guide conservation priorities and funding. Each habitat and species is assessed using strict EU-wide guidelines, taking into account parameters such as range, area, population, condition, future prospects, and trends.
Unfavourable conservation status means that a habitat or species is not in a condition that ensures its long-term survival in the EU, based on criteria of population/range/habitat quality (for species) or range/structure/functions/typical species (for habitats).
What habitats and species are protected
- Of the 233 habitat types listed in the Habitats Directive, 59 of them occur in Ireland. These include a good representation of Ireland’s semi-natural and natural habitats across marine, freshwater, peatland, grassland and woodland ecosystems.
- Of the 1,389 species listed in the Directive, 60 occur in Ireland. These include all whale and dolphin species, all bat species, other mammals such as Otter, Mountain Hare, and Pine Marten; 11 plant species (including 3 species groups), seven invertebrate species, seven fish species and three amphibian and reptile species. These species are a small subset of Ireland’s full species complement, but many are important indicators of wider ecosystem health. Birds are not listed on this Directive.
Key findings
The report highlights that:
- 90% of protected habitats in Ireland are assessed as having Unfavourable conservation status:
- 42% Unfavourable-Inadequate
- 48% Unfavourable-Bad
- 51% showing deteriorating trends and 9% showing improving trends
In contrast, a greater proportion of species are doing well, with over two-thirds either stable or improving:
- 12% Unfavourable-Inadequate
- 20% Unfavourable-Bad
- 18% showing deteriorating trends and 13% showing improving trends
Key pressures on nature include:
- Over two-thirds of habitats are impacted by agricultural related activities, particularly inappropriate grazing, drainage, and pollution.
- Invasive and problematic species, recreational activities, and pollution are impacting habitat quality.
- Freshwater species are also under pressure from water pollution.