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Biodiversity Action Plan

A national programme of measures to protect and enhance biodiversity across all Uisce Éireann sites.

About this action plan

We are committed to tackling biodiversity loss at Uisce Éireann as we understand protecting our ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity is essential to our business. We developed a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) which outlines our strategic objectives and the actions we are implementing on our sites to achieve them.

By working with the natural environment, we aim to conserve and enhance biodiversity across Ireland. Additionally, our BAP ensures that biodiversity is valued across all aspects of the business, as well as verifying Uisce Éireann’s commitment to complying with all relevant European and national environmental legislation.

Our Biodiversity Action Plan Objectives

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Objective 1

All Uisce Éireann sites will have a set of measures that will enhance and protect biodiversity. Key benefits: Managers of Uisce Éireann sites will be issued with resources to support the enhancement and management of biodiversity on their sites.

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Objective 2

Raise awareness and provide educational supports to Uisce Éireann staff and its partners. Key benefits: Empower others to act in ways that will better support nature and benefit wider communities.

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Objective 3

Ensure "no net loss" of biodiversity across Uisce Éireann sites when carrying out activities or delivering plans. Key benefits: Biodiversity will be protected for all new Uisce Éireann developments.

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Objective 4

Implement actions from the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan across all Uisce Éireann sites to support and increase our pollinator population. Key benefits: Aid pollinator recovery which will benefit the greater natural environment.

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Objective 5

Promote the use of nature-based solutions for water protection and wastewater treatment. Key benefits: Promote the use of nature-based solutions for water protection and wastewater treatment.

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Objective 6

Management of invasive alien species on Uisce Éireann sites. Key benefits: Increase biodiversity on our sites and reduce risks to our assets.

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Objective 7

Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders and the wider community, in protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Key benefits: Enable us to share and develop in other areas, ensuring the most appropriate and efficient actions are implemented.

Tree Planting

Our Progress So Far

Uisce Éireann developed a Progress Report in 2024 to illustrate how our BAP has been implemented since its launch in 2021. It outlines the progress made against each of the BAP’s seven objectives and provides details of how the measures have been implemented to achieve the actions so far, the challenges faced as these actions are implemented, and the next steps required to continue the work going forwards. As stated in the BAP, it was intended that it would be reviewed and updated every five years to ensure that it is fit for purpose and aligns with the relevant EU and national policies. However, given the new Nature Restoration Laws, impending National Restoration Plan, and the requirement of some Planning Authorities for Uisce Éireann to demonstrate Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) as part of our planning applications, the BAP will be reviewed and revised, if required. This progress report will feed into the overall review process of the BAP.

How Uisce Éireann Supports Biodiversity on our Sites

Uisce Éireann’s Woodland Planting

A map of areas around Ireland that are considered planting sites or are under licence for planting

Woodland Planting

View the map to find out what sites have been planted or are under licence for planting.

Success Stories