Minister O’Sullivan and Minister Heydon welcome new programme to protect Corncrake
- Foilsithe: 7 Bealtaine 2026
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 7 Bealtaine 2026
- Conservation actions from the highly successful Corncrake LIFE Project to continue through a new €4.35m programme
- Programme will be led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- New Programme will protect corncrakes and will also undertake actions to benefit a wider variety of farmland bird species.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, have today welcomed a new, €4.35 million programme to protect the Corncrake, a rare and endangered farmland bird, and other bird species. Building on the many successes of the Corncrake LIFE project, this new initiative, the ‘Natura Communities for Birds’ programme will build capacity in communities to deliver nature conservation actions for farmland birds.
The programme will initially operate in 9 key sites in Counties Donegal, Mayo and Galway selected for the conservation of Corncrake and designated as Special Protection Areas but will also support the conservation of a broader range of bird species.
The Corncrake is listed on the Red List of Conservation Concern due to declining numbers in Ireland and Europe. Over the past five years, the Corncrake LIFE project contributed to a 55% increase in the national corncrake population with almost 1,500 hectares of land in management agreements with landowners. It is widely considered an exemplar of bird conservation projects and was warmly received by the local communities and landowners it worked with. The project was led by NPWS in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Fota Wildlife Park, Atlantic Technological University and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Speaking from Belmullet in Co. Mayo, where he launched the Natura Communities for Birds programme Minister O’Sullivan said:
“The Corncrake LIFE Project has been an incredibly successful and hopeful story of nature conservation in Ireland. Through investment in conservation, and working hand in hand with local communities, this most elusive bird and its unique call can be heard that bit louder every year in the meadows, farmlands and hayfields of the northwest. Last year saw the highest number of corncrake territories recorded in 25 years. An incredible 250 farmers and landowners across Donegal, Mayo and Galway are now managing land for nature, implementing measures which protect this bird and improve its habitat.
“This new programme will build on that progress and provide further investment in communities here to keep up this good work. We need to support farmers and landowners who want to farm with nature and make sure that they are rewarded for the results they produce.”
Minister Heydon added;
“The positive impact of the Corncrake LIFE project is heartening to see and is a testament to the conservation work that farmers are embracing on their land”.
Minister Heydon further commented;
“Collaboration and engagement are the underpinning successes of the Corncrake Life project, from cross departmental to farmers and the wider community. This initiative brought all parties together with a conservation objective that delivered for all involved and is complemented by the ACRES Cooperation approach.
“I am delighted to support the future Corncrake programme and the winning tenderer Atlantic West Community Alliance CLG, which will continue this excellent conservation work.”
The Natura Communities for Birds Programme will see conservation action being led by a locally embedded team in partnership with landowners, farmers and communities. The Programme will be overseen by the NPWS, working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. NPWS has appointed Atlantic West Community Alliance CLG to develop and help deliver the Nature Community for Birds pilot programme.
Dr. John Carey from the National Parks and Wildlife Service said;
“The learnings from the LIFE project, many of which have already been incorporated in the ACRES CP scheme, will now have the opportunity to adapt and improve further. The Natura Communities team will be able to continue to instil the confidence and support to farmers and landowners who want to manage for these rare birds and keep their farms filled with wildlife. So much good work has been done in the past five years, not only to restore nature, but to restore trust and cooperation between communities and conservation. Today marks a new era and will be a lasting testament to the work of Corncrake LIFE and all the people who contributed to it.”
Suzanne Nally, Director of Nature Conservation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service concluded:
“The Corncrake LIFE project was an inspiring and successful model for the delivery of conservation measures and community engagement with farmers and landowners. The NPWS has always committed to mainstreaming these actions and we are delighted to support Natura Communities for Birds today. This initiative demonstrates the best of Ireland’s approaches to conservation, with locally led teams working in cooperation with the NPWS and landowners to deliver for nature and people. We look forward to seeing yet another excellent example of a systemic and integrated approach to conservation measures as part of the Ireland’s delivery of its obligations under the EU Nature Directives.”
The Natura Communities for Birds Programme will run for an initial three year period. It is being funded with contributions from NPWS, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and through Shared Island funding.
It will focus on corncrake conservation and habitat restoration, species monitoring and forge community partnerships and develop champions for bird conservation. The ultimate goal is to ensure the long term conservation of farmland birds and their habitats whilst delivering social benefits for local people in the areas through direct investment in communities to deliver nature focused solutions.
ENDS
About the Corncrake/Traonach LIFE Project:
The LIFE project, led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Fota Wildlife Park, Atlantic Technological University and Údarás na Gaeltachta, focuses within eight core areas and works towards the delivery of specialist conservation actions for birds The Corncrake LIFE project will conclude on 30 June 2026.
About Natura Communities
Natura Communities builds capacity for local communities to deliver restoration projects, and provides a framework for an integrated approach to sustainable landscape management. The ultimate goal is to improve the conservation status in the Natura 2000 network, including Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). By directly investing in communities within and adjacent to Natura 2000 sites, Natura Communities supports long-term conservation within local areas. Building capacity to engage in this type of work has two broad benefits; it delivers social benefits for people in these areas (e.g. through job creation) whilst improving the ecological quality and resilience of protected habitats. Natura Communities is developed under LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature and has been awarded Shared Island Funding of €10 million from 2026-2030, matched by €5 million in funding from NPWS. Natura Communities for Birds will have a fund of €4.35m with contributions from Shared Island Funding, NPWS and the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine.