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Graham Hughes

Malcolm Noonan It's not enough to watch threatened species struggle to survive

The Green Party TD looks at the agreement at Cop 15 Biodiversity conference in Canada and says time is running out for nature.

LAST UPDATE | 20 Dec 2022

AT COOLDROSS IN County Wicklow, there’s a wire fence. It’s three metres high and buried into the ground with an electric wire running across the top.

Behind the fence is a population of Lapwing, or Pilibín as Gaeilge: ground-nesting birds with a white breast, iridescent black wings and an elaborate feather quiff on the top of their heads.

They make a haunting ‘Pee-wit! Pee-wit!’ call that carries across the soggy meadows and wetlands where they breed. This once-abundant species is now endangered, on Ireland’s Red List since 1999, for a range of reasons including too few nesting and feeding places and too many predators (the latter explaining the need for the fence).

jail-sanctuary-for-threatened-birds Lapwing, one of the world's most threatened birds. Niall Carson Niall Carson

I visited this project, which is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, earlier this year. After three years, it is showing signs of success with more than 20 breeding pairs in 2022, up from a mere handful in 2020. Strength in numbers allows the Lapwing to work together to fight off the hooded crows that feast on their eggs.

Beside the Cooldross project is Kilcoole Beach, where Little Terns nest. Here on the rocky shore, dedicated Birdwatch volunteers stand guard over a hundred or so nests, all numbered, with eggs camouflaged in the coloured stones. Again, thankfully, 2022 was a good season.

One breach in the fencing, one summer storm, could wipe the progress out. That’s how precarious these conservation ‘success’ stories are.

Over the past two years as Minister of State for Heritage, I have visited projects conserving our island’s last remaining Corncrake, Curlew, Natterjack Toads and Grey Partridge, all heroically led by passionate and dedicated NPWS teams, volunteers and farmers. It’s invigorating to see.

But I’m tired. I’m tired of seeing nature being corralled and fenced in or with 24-hour guard standing over a species on the brink.

We do it because it’s necessary to preserve our hope that, one day, when nature is restored, a balance will be returned. Hope that society’s vision for the future of this island takes account of what is currently a broken, nature-poor, fragmented landscape. Hope that it chooses to make space for a mosaic of connected habitats buzzing and singing with thriving nature, resilient in the context of our many land and sea uses and a changing climate.

We must do better

The coming 12 months will be decisive for nature policy in Ireland. Our next National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) will be finalised, informed and bolstered by the outputs of the Citizens’ Assembly and the parallel Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss.

It will also need to integrate the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, including the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law. We expect the details of this new regulation and its implications for Ireland to become clearer over the coming months, though we already understand the imperative to develop a long term strategic fund for nature beyond current EU funding mechanisms and the need for policy coherence across a range of sectors in order to deliver on it.

The NBAP will also need to absorb the outcomes that have emerged this week from the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 in Montreal, Canada. This global meeting was the most important summit on nature in over a decade, where a new set of biodiversity goals to 2030 was agreed by 196 countries, including Ireland.

The goals commit us all to protecting 30% of the world’s lands, waterways, coasts and oceans; restoring 30% of the world’s degraded terrestrial and marine ecosystems; investing $30bn annually in financial aid to help low-income countries meet the targets and reducing the subsidies that damage nature by $500bn per year.

canada-biodiversity-conference Huang Runqiu, left, President of the COP 15 and Minister of Ecology and Environment of China listens as Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, speaks during a press conference at the COP 15 summit on biodiversity, in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. (Peter McCabe /The Canadian Press via AP) AP / PA Images AP / PA Images / PA Images

One of Canada’s most famous sons, Neil Young sang ‘we got mother nature on the run in the 1970s’ in his 1972 classic, After the Gold Rush. Like many conservationists, Neil saw the destruction of our natural world back then as a threat to our very existence.

He was right. Today, we have a global pact for nature and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape what it means for Ireland in what history will see as the most crucial decade for action.

We must not limit our ambition. I want to be able to remove the fences in Cooldross, and everywhere else in this country, in my lifetime. This can only be achieved through collaborative action and inclusion of everyone and to do that we must break down our own barriers.

Malcolm Noonan is a Green Party TD for Carlow-Kilkenny.

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    Mute DJ François
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:50 AM

    Trumpflake whinges about freedom of speech on twitter, while trying to censor a book.

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    Mute Nicholas O'Halloran
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:16 AM

    Would love to buy it

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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:44 AM

    @Nicholas O’Halloran: I’d say Bolton & the publishers are delighted with this, it’s going to push sales through the roof.

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    Mute Joe Toner
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:35 AM

    It hasn’t been “vetted” yet!!. When that’s done the book will run to about 3 pages…..

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    Mute Evan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:50 AM

    @Joe Toner: its just the bit between contents and index they have an issue with, to be fair.

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    Mute Paul Potts
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:10 AM

    Get it on the shelves.

    49
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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:55 AM

    The book should not be published.

    A man that worked in a Goverment Administration that is still sitting should be restricted from publishing such a book.

    There should be a time frame for such books something like 5 years after that particular administration has ended.

    51
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    Mute Brendan Greene
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:03 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: nonsense. Numerous ex-ministers and advisers of sitting governments all around the w p rld have published books.

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    Mute Locojoe
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:10 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: Transparency in Government?

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:34 AM

    @Brendan Greene: why is it nonsense?
    It is an attempt to cash in, and possibly interfere in an upcoming election.

    I would not like to see it ever happen in Ireland..

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    Mute Edmund Murphy
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:58 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: if what he says us true the it’s important for the next election. Informed voters is what you want in a democracy. If it’s not true then trump can sue.

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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:02 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: I can see your point and, ordinarily, I’d agree with you, however these are far from ordinary times and there have already been several books written from inside this administration.
    There’s also the assumption that John Bolton will break the national secrets act and release some sort of juicy, salacious gossip which I very much doubt. The man has been around far too long and is far too seasoned to do something so stupid, no what he can do is give an honest, view of Trump one that may be very unflattering and believable. They may be able to stop this release within the US but not internationally, and it will leak back into America, so a wasted exercise.

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    Mute Joe Toner
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:58 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan:
    Might not be a bad thing.

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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Jun 17th 2020, 10:39 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: Let me guess lies and toxic poison form Trump and his followers etc ok but facts in a book not ok……I expect nothing less no wonder the US is such a mess.

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    Mute Terry McClatchey
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    Jun 17th 2020, 11:33 AM

    @Arch Angel: The threat however is to use civil law to protect Trump’s personal reputation. If the issue was genuinely one of national security, it would be an issue for criminal law and official prosecutors.

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    Mute Sam Greene
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    Jun 17th 2020, 11:38 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: why? If there are concerns about trumps behaviour as President, then they should be known, we all get Performance Reviews in our jobs, this is Trumps performance review. No wonder hes worried.

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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Jun 17th 2020, 11:46 AM

    @Terry McClatchey: Perhaps it’s one masquerading as the other. We know Trump has a somewhat inflated ego and likes to believe he’s a genius in all areas. It wouldn’t be impossible for him, fearing ridicule, to issue civil proceedings based upon claims of threats to national security.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 17th 2020, 1:17 PM

    @Arch Angel: I don’t think John Bolton can give an honest view of much at all

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    Mute Kevin
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    Jun 17th 2020, 1:37 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan:

    How many voters ever cast their ballot based on some overhyped political potboiler that hits the shelves 5 months before an election? There’s a myriad of channels for political“interference” when attempting to influence the electorate. It’s been 50:50 Rep:Dem for decades in the US & For those who will bother to vote their minds are mostly made up. Bolton is a militant ultra nationalist right winger who has the smarts, tenacity and vindictiveness to tell DJT to GFHIMSELF. This is more about a personal vendetta than anything else.

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Jun 17th 2020, 3:21 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: So Trump is doing fine as the US president?

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    Mute ahhhhh its
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:54 AM

    Jack Simpson: something something mr Tough guy Bolton, something sleepy Joe, something something dem hoax, something no he can use ramps and drink water unaided, he was sabotaged by Obama

    Etc etc

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    Mute Edmund Murphy
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:00 AM

    @ahhhhh its: was jack bot on again with its I love trump, Putin did nothing wrong script?

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    Mute Wayne Connor
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    Jun 17th 2020, 12:03 PM

    @ahhhhh its: don’t say his name 3 times cos then he’ll appear !

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    Mute Simon Power
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:59 AM

    This Court case is a marketing coup for Bolton’s book. Nothing sells faster than a “banned book.”

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    Mute Isabel Oliveira
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    Jun 17th 2020, 10:55 AM

    What a sad day that anyone considers John Bolton as a voice to be heard . War criminal of the worst kind.

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    Mute John Moloney
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    Jun 17th 2020, 10:40 AM

    I wonder will john bolton tell as much lies in this book as he did when he national security adviser i don’t think thats possible but we will wait and see

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    Mute Sam Greene
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:30 PM

    @John Moloney: well he wont wont be the only liar then would he. Trump rolls lies off his tongue every week and gets away with it.

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    Mute Dave Harris
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:50 AM

    Some advice for Donald J Trump- if you don’t want people to write books about how bad your presidency is, stop doing stupid things!

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 17th 2020, 4:56 PM

    @Dave Harris: amd a follow up, if they do write a book don’t mention it, don’t fight it. I swear he must have shares in publishers.

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    Mute eddie horgan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 10:40 AM

    I doubt Bolton hasn’t taken due diligence before having the book ready for sale

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:00 AM

    Apart from Trump and Bolton when one signs a conditions of employment
    document for any job which includes not revealing sensitive information
    to the public, then one is obviously in breach of conditions of employment.

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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
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    Jun 17th 2020, 12:56 PM

    @WreckDefier:
    You are a federal employee, held by a federal employee contract…

    Read the contract and find the place where it says you can’t write a book…

    Trump tried to get WH staff to sign a different (more secretive contract) but that was grossly illegal…

    John Bolton didn’t work for Trump. He worked for the US People and apart from state secrets, he can say what he likes…

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Jun 17th 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Cowboy Paddy: The article here states that “The Department of Justice lawsuit says Bolton failed to have the text vetted, meaning his book would be in clear breach of agreements HE signed as a condition of his employment and as a condition of gaining access to highly classified information”. This, the DOJ says, “risks compromising National security”.
    There will be many more greedy people like Bolton who will make a lot of money out of all this and who don’t give a fiddlers
    about what Trump did or did not do during his presidency.

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    Mute Gavin Burke
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    Jun 17th 2020, 1:19 PM

    Bit I thought Bolton was the best guy for the job?
    Until he was fired!
    Like when he said he would drain the swamp of corruption and thibgs like nepotism.
    Then hired all his family!
    And I thought he was the most open President in history??
    But then why does he sue people, and pay hush money and hide tax returns and put gag orders on people?
    And was is all news that doesnt praise him fake?
    And how come the election is onlh rigged if he loses in his opinion?
    #notaleader

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    Mute Evan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 11:32 AM

    He should just use his aides vaccine.

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    Mute Wade Wilson
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    Jun 17th 2020, 5:49 PM

    Trump: Bolton’s boom is full of lies!

    Also Trump: Everything in Bolton’s book is classified!

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