Ireland is overhauling its water abstraction laws to better protect water resources and align with the EU Water Framework Directive. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced updated guidelines, replacing the outdated Water Resources Act 1997, to ensure sustainable water use and prevent ecological harm....
1. The Planning Authority’s Duty to Consider Ecology Even if a pNHA isn’t legally binding, planning laws in most EU countries (and beyond) require authorities to assess a project’s impact on biodiversity. For example, the EU Habitats Directive, While focused on Natura 2000 sites, it sets...
Europe’s protected landscapes—whether called Natura 2000 sites, National Parks, or Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs)—are vital for safeguarding biodiversity. But in many countries, including Ireland, a curious pattern exists: hundreds of proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs) are listed, while only a small fraction gain full NHA...
Europe’s landscapes—from dense forests to coastal wetlands—are home to thousands of species, many found nowhere else on Earth. But as human activity encroaches on these habitats, how do we balance progress with preservation? Enter the Habitats Directive, a landmark EU law passed in 1992 to...
