News

Ministers welcome major milestone in protection of threatened birds

Date Released: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

• 170 landowners have committed to protecting some of Ireland’s most vulnerable bird species as part of the Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership
• This equates to 2,340 ha which are now under conservation management.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, together with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, have welcomed a significant milestone in Ireland’s efforts to protect vulnerable ground‑nesting bird species. A total of 170 landowners have now joined the Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (EIP), with over 2,340 hectares of land now being actively managed to support targeted conservation actions.

This achievement reflects a strong and growing commitment from farmers and land managers to support some of our most iconic native species, including the Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank, Dunlin and Common Snipe, whose populations have faced severe decline in recent decades.

The Breeding Waders EIP is funded by both the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said:

“Many species of birds in Ireland are under threat but our breeding waders in particular have seen massive declines over the last number of years. Through the efforts of the team at the Breeding Waders EIP and the enthusiasm of the landowners who are volunteering to take part in this collaborative project, I am hopeful that we will start to see a reversal of these trends. I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the landowners involved, and wish them every success in their efforts to protect these amazing birds.”

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, said:

“It’s great to see such positive engagement from farmers and other land-owners with the Breeding Waders EIP project and I would like to congratulate all involved in reaching such high levels of participation. A project of this scale and ambition relies heavily on land-owner support and collaboration is essential to securing and improving breeding wader populations which is the key objective of this EIP. Today’s announcement demonstrates how the project team is successfully building the momentum to achieve this important goal and I would like to commend their hard work to date.”

Through the project, participating landowners work closely with the Breeding Waders EIP project team, who liaise directly with them to agree all proposed actions before any habitat management plan is finalised. This collaborative approach ensures that every measure is tailored to the individual farm and fully supported by the landowner. Once plans are agreed, participants receive practical supports, along with participation payments that recognise the time and effort involved, to enhance breeding success and improve overall habitat quality.

Senior Project Manager with the Breeding Waders EIP Owen Murphy welcomed the milestone, saying:

“Having 170 participating landowners, this early in the life of the project, is a remarkable endorsement of the collaborative approach at the heart of the Breeding Waders EIP. Farmers are essential partners in reversing the decline of our ground‑nesting birds, and their willingness to engage is creating real momentum on the ground. I envisage that the project will ultimately see more than 12,000ha of land receiving management actions for Waders while also delivering the associated co-benefits in biodiversity, carbon capture and flood mitigation.”

Since its launch in May 2024, the project has focused on practical, science‑led measures including habitat management, predator control, headstarting, water level management, and reducing disturbance during the critical nesting season (March to July). The 2,340 hectares now under active conservation management represent some of the most important ecosystems for Ireland’s breeding waders.

Niall Ó Donnchu, Director General with the National Parks and Wildlife Service said

“NPWS has been committed to supporting the Breeding Waders EIP from the outset. Projects like this give us the opportunity to test innovative approaches to protecting and restoring threatened species and habitats. Along with LIFE projects and other conservation initiatives, we are learning and building our nature response resources. We are really encouraged by these results. And, above all, we are building flourishing partnerships for nature with landowners.”

Project Ecologist with the Breeding Waders EIP Andrea Parisi, added:

“The level of engagement demonstrates that farmers are committed to protecting the biodiversity of their farm, and in many cases, they take pride in having wader species nesting on their land. With 2,340 hectares now managed specifically for breeding waders, we are already seeing improvements in habitat conditions and early signs of positive increased breeding activity.”

Project participant Mike Connell from Inchbofin who joined the project in 2024 stated:

“Working with Breeding Waders EIP has been an absolute pleasure. The team are incredibly supportive in both consultation and action. They assisted with scrub clearance from the shore on my land, offering to cover the cost of a contractor or pay me to do it myself, making it a win-win situation. This experience has given me a newfound appreciation for birds. Not long ago, I had very little knowledge of birds. Since I started with the Breeding Waders EIP, I can now recognise the birds that have returned to my land, including Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew and Redshank. I genuinely enjoy watching these birds off the shore. Breeding Waders EIP put no pressure on me; they worked with me, and the project has been incredibly beneficial, I’ve enjoyed implementing the Wader Action Plan. The collaboration has greatly benefited my land.”

The Breeding Waders EIP team will continue to expand support for participating landowners, with further training events, habitat assessments, and monitoring planned throughout the life of the project. The project team encourages landowners with suitable habitat for wading birds, such as open, naturally rich areas with good connectivity and low predator pressure, to get involved. Further information available at www.breedingwaders.ie.

Further Information

The Breeding Waders EIP initiative is co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government under the CAP Strategic Plan. In this case, both the National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will fund agri-environmental actions, while the National Parks and Wildlife Service will also fund the Operational Group’s administrative costs.

The Breeding Waders EIP Operational Group consists of Irish Rural Link in partnership with Michael Martyn Agri-Environment, Irish Wildlife Services, Hen Harrier Project, Atlantic Technological University, University College Dublin, Fota Wildlife Park and Dublin Zoo.

For more information about this EIP-Agri project, visit https://breedingwaders.ie/,

Further information on the European Innovation Partnership (AGRI) may be found here.

About the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)

The NPWS is an Executive Agency within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves. See www.npws.ie for further information.

About The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 

The Department of Agriculture, food and the Marine serves the government and the people of Ireland by leading, developing and regulating the agri-food sector, protecting public health and optimising social, economic and environmental benefits.

See Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for further information.