New legislation to strengthen protection of Mayo's national park

THE Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, has announced his intention to develop a National Parks Bill which will place Mayo's Wild Nephin National Park on a dedicated statutory footing and establish nature conservation and restoration as the primary purpose of its management.

The proposal to develop the Bill was brought to Cabinet earlier this week by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne.

To date, national parks have been cared for through a range of legislative and administrative arrangements. Today’s announcement on the development of a dedicated, comprehensive legislative framework will enable the State to go further by establishing management planning and governance frameworks, developing transparent designation processes, facilitating public access, recreation, education and research, and aligning Ireland with international best practice.

Wild Nephin National Park, home to vast blanket bog habitats and an internationally recognised Dark Sky landscape, will be among the national parks placed on a statutory footing under the proposed Bill.

Said Minister O’Sullivan: “The forthcoming National Parks Bill will represent one of the most significant developments in nature conservation legislation in the history of the State, and it couldn’t come at a more important time. We know that we need to lead nature restoration on public land, and our national parks are central to achieving this.

“I want Ireland’s first National Parks Bill to make the goal for these amazing places crystal clear: to protect and restore nature.”

He continued: “Wild Nephin National Park represents one of Ireland’s most spectacular and unspoilt natural landscapes. The National Parks Bill will help ensure that its wilderness character and unique biodiversity are protected for generations to come.”

Sam Birch, regional manager, Wild Nephin National Park, welcomed the news, and said: “This legislation will strengthen our ability to protect the nationally important landscape of our park all the while supporting habitat restoration, scientific research and nature-based-tourism.

“It will help ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from this extraordinary landscape.”