Public Consultation on the draft Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Biodiversity 2025.

The aim of this public consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on the Department’s draft Sectoral Adaptation Plan 2025.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has commenced the process of developing its second Sectoral Adaptation Plan in 2025.

Climate change poses significant and growing risks to Ireland’s biodiversity, with impacts already evident across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Climate change globally has already caused widespread impacts on ecosystems, including species loss, ecosystem restructuring, and declines in key ecosystem services. These changes reduce the capacity of ecosystems to provide essential services, such as climate regulation, water provision and purification, and flood mitigation. Biodiversity loss, driven by both direct human pressures and climate change, weakens the resilience of ecosystems, making them less able to adapt to further climate stress.

While many of the primary drivers of biodiversity loss to date in Ireland have been from pressures such as land-use change, over extraction, overgrazing, pollution and invasive species, the effects of climate change are now exacerbating these pressures, compounding the vulnerability and decline of many species and habitats.

In response to these challenges, proactive adaptation measures are required to safeguard Ireland’s biodiversity and ensure the continued delivery of the essential ecosystem services it provides. This can be achieved through a combination of restoring degraded habitats, enhancing ecological connectivity, implementing nature-based solutions (NbS), and integrating biodiversity considerations into climate and land-use planning. Critically, it will involve a cross sectoral approach, acknowledging that climate change and biodiversity loss are inextricably linked and the impacts of climate change on biodiversity are evident across all sectors - in particular the water quality, forestry, and agriculture sectors.

The NPWS invites submissions, observations and comments on the Draft Biodiversity Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for 2025. This Plan is mandated by the National Adaptation Framework 2024.

The first Sectoral Adaptation Plan, published in 2019, can be viewed at Biodiversity Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan.

The closing date for submissions is 5:00pm, Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Submissions should be sent by email to Adaptation2025@npws.gov.ie by 5pm on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, or by post to

National Parks and Wildlife Service,

90 King Street North,

Smithfield,

Dublin 7,

D07 N7CV.

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the Sectoral Adaptation Plan 2025.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

• The Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
• The Access t to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
• The Data Protection Act 2018

Note: The Department will not disclose the identities of individuals who submit responses, nor will it publish the findings arising from the public consultations. All submissions will undergo a comprehensive assessment by the Department, and the information provided will remain strictly confidential and will not be disclosed outside the Department.

For more information visit: Data Protection Privacy Notices

You can read the Draft Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Biodiversity 2025 by following the link or clicking the document below