Citizen’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss was one of four Citizens’ Assemblies contained in the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future. It comprised 99 members of the public, randomly selected from households across Ireland, and an independent Chairperson appointed by the Taoiseach. Informed by detailed input from experts, stakeholders, and the public, in 2023 the Assembly agreed 73 high-level recommendations and 86 sectoral-specific recommendations related to how the State can improve its response to the issue of biodiversity loss. These included:
• Section 1.15 specifically addresses Forestry, Woodland, and Hedgerows. • 89. More farms and farmers must be encouraged and rewarded for adopting the Silvopasture • Approach to farming – planting native deciduous trees in amongst pasture lands. • 123. A new national strategy for the protection, maintenance, restoration, and expansion of Ireland’s network of hedgerows must be developed urgently • 125. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine must implement incentives for State, Semi State, and commercial bodies to establish more nurseries for the cultivation of indigenous hedgerow species and indigenous broadleaf tree species • 142. Schemes to incentivise people to buy native plants, shrubs, and trees, including native fruiting trees and shrubs, to support garden biodiversity over non-native species should be devised and encouraged. • 144. Planning policy must be updated to require all new developments to have a significant net-gain for the environment and biodiversity. • 145. In line with international best practice, the State must increase mandatory requirements for a percentage of green spaces that support biodiversity in urban areas.
LOCAL
Corporate Plan The five-year Corporate Plan 2024 reflects the Local Economic and Community Plan and guides the delivery of services. It targets the development of a sustainable, integrative, healthy and communities engaging city following on from Cork being a WHO Healthy City. Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 The Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 identifies the lands planned for development and regeneration. It includes objectives to develop the green and blue infrastructure of the city and to sustainably develop neighbourhoods. Table 5.1 of Cork City Natura Impact Report in support of the Appropriate Assessment for the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 also summarises mitigation measures of Cork City Development Plan to protect the environment, which includes the need for a Tree Strategy for the planning, protection, and maintenance of trees
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