Dáil Eireann, 23rd May 2023: Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, announced a review of Ireland’s Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations. These Regulations are designed to protect nature and our environment by requiring landowners to go through screening and an Environmental Impact Assessment for particular projects. Projects may include restructuring rural land (e.g. removing hedgerows or stone walls), intensifying agriculture on uncultivated land or semi-natural areas, or draining land for agriculture. You can read more here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/161a7-environmental-impact-assessment-screening-service/
The first part of the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations relates directly to hedgerow removal on rural land. Hedgerows Ireland is advocating in favour of retaining and rejuvenating hedgerows for climate, biodiversity, and contributions to people. So we made a submission! Read our thoughts below…