Pollution, over-exploitation and the spread of non-native species are causing a decline in Ireland's biodiversity comparable to the major extinctions in history, according to a new study.
The Biochange report, published today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is the first comprehensive assessment of the impact of the changing environment on ecosystems in this country.
It identifies four main drivers of biodiversity loss caused by human activity – habitat destruction and fragmentation, the spread of non-native invasive species, pollution and over-exploitation of natural resources.
Ireland has a wealth of biodiversity from peatlands to woodlands, hedgerows, sand dunes and seas; it also includes the animals and plants that depend on these habitats for survival.
The report said the financial implications of biodiversity loss are significant. In 2008, the European Commission estimated the value of annual loss in ecosystem services resulting from the cumulative loss of biodiversity will be €14 trillion globally by 2050.
At a national level, a recent study valued ecosystem services in Ireland at €2.6 billion per annum.
The agriculture industry, for example, would not thrive without essential ecosystem services such as pollination by insects and soil conditioning by earthworms.
Lead researcher on the report, Dr Steve Waldren, said relatively small actions can bring big benefits in terms of boosting species and their functions.
“By ensuring that small fragments of habitat are protected in developed areas and by conserving hedgerows in agricultural lands we can take some immediate positive steps towards halting biodiversity loss,” he said.
The report said that much still remains to be done to create an awareness of the importance of biodiversity and that its conservation makes good economic sense.
Easy-to-access information was identified as being crucial to halting biodiversity loss. As part of the BioChange project, a database of Irish living organisms was created which currently documents some 16,000 Irish species. It can be accessed at www.species.ie.
EPA director general Laura Burke said the report would be of benefit to policymakers in a range of areas such as agriculture, planning and environment management.
“This research underlines the importance and value of protecting our ecosystems and highlights the requirement to mainstream biodiversity considerations into planning and governance at national and local levels,” she said.
Non-native invaders causing problems
Zebra mussel
A native of South East Russia, this freshwater mussel accidentally arrived into Ireland in 1994 attached to the hulls of boats bought in from either Britain or the Netherlands where it had already become widely established. It was first discovered in Lough Derg and has since spread by both deliberate and accidental introductions to other areas.
These mussels are filter feeders and so increase water clarity, which is thought to be the reason they are deliberately introduced into lakes by anglers. However, they have a negative impact on fish populations because they alter the natural ecosystem which are the food source for juvenile fish. They also cause an increase of plant growth around lake margins. They have caused a decline in our native freshwater mussel by attaching to their shells and “smothering” them. They are also responsible for causing blockages to freshwater intake pipes and boat engines.
Grey Squirrel
Not native to Ireland, the grey squirrel was deliberately introduced in 1911 in Co Longford and has now spread to about 20 counties. It is larger and more adaptable to the available food source then the native red squirrel and the decline in the red squirrel can be directly correlated to the decline of the red squirrel.