RADICAL changes are needed to protect Ireland's privately owned natural heritage areas from such threats as afforestation and overgrazing, according to a major report commissioned by the Heritage Council.
"If the current situation is maintained into the future, it would seem that the only reasonably effective nature designations would be nature reserves and national parks," its author, Mr David Hickie of An Taisce writes.
Although the report recommends that long promised legislation to protect Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) should be passed without delay", it suggests that this would not solve the problem unless there are other changes.
It says many State and EU grant and compensatory payment schemes, price supports, tax reliefs and advisory services conflict, directly or indirectly, with the environment, notably the Common Agricultural Policy.
It seeks the reform of grant schemes and other incentives which conflict with conservation objectives, including such CAP measures as afforestation grants, sheep head age payments and tax relief for land "improvements".
So far, it concedes, the State has been reluctant to impose too many controls over private land to avoid alienating rural voters. "Even the requirement for planning permission to build a house is seen as interference."
Nature conservation is unpopular because it imposes new restrict ions. "The folk memory of landlordism, with all that it implies, is still present in Irish culture and the State is seen as another landlord, especially in the west."
As a result, planning and conservation laws are interpreted in a liberal manner. "Enforcement is not as thorough as in some neighbouring countries. This is a cultural phenomenon which occurs in many areas of Irish life.
"Practical knowledge of nature conservation is lacking among farmers, forestry workers, planners, engineers and others who are directly concerned with land management," the report says, adding that the resources available are also inadequate.
It says none of the large sectoral lobby groups is likely to press for reform and could even oppose it. "Policy reform, particularly in agriculture, is politically controversial and does not win votes."
To make NHAs more politically acceptable to farmers, the report suggests, there should be compensation where the livelihoods of landowners are significantly affected by designation.
All State agencies, particularly the Departments of Agriculture, Marine, Energy, Tourism, Communications and Environment, should be directed to incorporate environmental objectives into spending programmes, it says.
The report also calls for a substantial increase in qualified staff in the National Parks and Wildlife Service to assess planning applications, make management plans, supervise conservation works and promote public education.
