Ireland needs to invest hundreds of millions every year to restore nature and to support farmers, fishers and foresters to protect the environment, according to a report from the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration.
The report found that 90% of protected habitats are in an unfavourable conservation condition, with Ireland being one of the lowest ranked countries in the world for intact biodiversity.
The Independent Advisory Committee includes farmers, fishers, academics and environmentalists.
It said Ireland currently spends the lowest proportion of GDP of an EU state on nature and needs to spend up to €700m a year to implement European regulations.
The committee has three key recommendations: Fund nature restoration, restore nature on public lands as a priority and support farmers, fishers and foresters.
The report also said that these are the people who work most closely with nature and there are not sufficient financial rewards for them to take the actions that are needed.
