Active stakeholder engagement critical in development of Nature Restoration Plan - INHFA
THE Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have called on Minister Malcom Noonan for active engagement with critical stakeholders prior to the drafting of Ireland's National Nature Restoration Plan.
The INHFA has written to the minister detailing the need for 'immediate and active engagement that must include farmer representation', said national president Vincent Roddy.
Following the passing of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) by the Council of Ministers last summer, each country is required to draft their own National Restoration Plan that must then be submitted to the EU Commission and, if required, amended before its final adoption.This process must be completed by July 2026 'so the clock is ticking on this', he explained.
The INHFA president has cautioned that 'active engagement must not be confused with stakeholder consultation', adding: “Stakeholders must be at the table prior to the writing of any draft.”
From once there is a draft plan, it is, Mr. Roddy explained more difficult to get significant changes made. “And our experience is that 80 per cent of what is in the initial draft will find its way into the final document and become law.”
He continued: “It is four months since the NRL was passed and there has been no engagement with farmers or their representatives and this is becoming a major concern.”
Through the passing of this law by the three European institutions, commitments were given that farmers and landowners would not be compelled to carry out specific actions and these commitments were also confirmed in the Dáil last June.
“These voluntary commitments must be front and centre in any national plan. However, the long delay in commencing stakeholder engagement is now a major concern and we have to wonder if this time is being used to find a mechanism that will dilute the impact of these voluntary commitments.”
In concluding, he stressed: “The NRL will have a massive impact on land use across Ireland and this is why we need as much time as possible, to ensure the concerns we outlined through the development of this plan are properly addressed.”