The Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan was launched on the 10th of September by Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, after ten years in the making. Speaking in his foreword of the plan, the minister stated:
“We must seize the opportunities presented in this Plan to deliver meaningful change to the management of our landscapes and protect our most vulnerable species.”
The Hen Harrier is a ground-nesting species that typically breeds in open upland bog and heather moorland. The 2022 National Hen Harrier survey showed that the Hen Harrier population had declined by 33% since the previous survey in 2015, to between 85 and 106 pairs. The species remains listed on the Amber-list of Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (2020-2026), recently published by BirdWatch Ireland. Additionally, the species is listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) and, as such, six SPAs (Special Protection Areas) have been designated for conserving important breeding habitats and populations of Hen Harrier.
The aim of the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan is to improve the long-term prospects for the species and to meet the objectives of the Birds Directive by:
- “Synthesising the key scientific evidence for the Hen Harrier population decline;
- outlining the views and concerns presented by the relevant sectors; and
- laying out a coordinated set of targeted actions and measures to cease, avoid, reverse, reduce, eliminate or prevent the identified threats, pressures and hazards”.
The current plan aims to address the threats faced by this iconic raptor through a series of coordinated actions, across sectors including agriculture, forestry and wind energy. Actions will focus on informing future conservation strategies, collaboration and the further development of agri-environmental schemes and incentives, through data collection, monitoring and research. These actions will be taken across all areas important to Hen Harrier, both within and outside Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas.
However, the current plan received criticism from several environmental and conservation-based NGOs, such as Birdwatch Ireland, Environmental Pillar, and An Taisce, for lacking ambition in targeted actions. They argue that the actions set out by the current plan are vague and lack detail on any defined or measurable targets and timeframes, in terms of population levels or restoration of available habitat.
In February 2024, Wind Energy Ireland raised similar concerns after the draft response plan was published. One positive highlighted by Wind Energy Ireland is the inclusion of an action to undertake pre-application meetings at the early stage of the pre-planning process. Allowing for any potential nature conservation conflicts to be identified at an early stage, minimising cost and time implications for all parties involved.
Time will tell whether the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan will bring about meaningful change for the fortunes of this rare bird of prey. At MKO, we hope it will be the start of cross-sectoral action, driving the resurgence of the hen harrier and bringing it from the brink of extinction.
References:
Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan 2024-2028, available here.
Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan a failed opportunity – Environmental Pillar, BirdWatch Ireland & An Taisce, available here.
WEI Response to the Draft Threat Response Plan for the Hen Harrier 2024-2028, available here.