Nature-based Solutions Conferences

Since 2024, we have worked with many stakeholders, local authorities and industry partners to host an annual Nature-based Solutions Conference in Dundalk Institute of Technology. These conferences feature a range of experts from Ireland and beyond discussing the mainstreaming and adoption of Nature-based Solutions suited to the Irish environment.

During the conference, expert speakers and panelists focus on the implementation of Nature-based Solutions in urban, rural, riverine and coastal areas and draw from practical, on-the-ground examples, with an examination of policy and an emphasis on finding opportunities to implement these solutions.

Nature-based Solutions Conference 2025

LAWPRO’s second national Nature-based Solutions Conference took place in Dundalk Institute of Technology on 4th and 5th June 2025. The conference featured a range of experts from Ireland and beyond discussing the mainstreaming and adoption of Nature-based Solutions suited to the Irish environment.

The recording of each speaker at the conference is now available to watch:

 

 

LAWPRO’s second national Nature-based Solutions Conference took place in Dundalk Institute of Technology on 4th and 5th June 2025. The conference featured a range of experts from Ireland and beyond discussing the mainstreaming and adoption of a range of Nature-based Solutions suited to the Irish environment.

Speakers and Presentations         

10.00-10.10   WELCOME ADDRESS: Dr. Diarmuid O’Callaghan, President, DKIT

10.10-10.20   MINISTERIAL ADDRESS: Minister Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity

THEME 1: URBAN                                                    

10.20-10.40   Professor Chris Spray, Tweed Forum / University of Dundee – Holistic overview of NbS, Setting the scene – Nature-based Solutions, the ugly, the bad and the good

10.40-10.55   Stephen O’Malley, CEO, CIVIC – LAWPRO Guidance Document for Planners, Developers & Developer Agents

10.55-11.10    Tom Brennan & Eamonn O’Connell, LAWPRO Nature-based Solutions Team – Rainwater Management Planning & LAWPRO Demonstrator Projects

11.10-11.25    Francis Finnerty, Wastewater Asset Strategy Manager, Uisce Éireann – NbS to improve Wastewater System Performance and Capacity – Actioning the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive         

THEME 2: RURAL/BIODIVERSITY/CLIMATE                                         

11:45-12:00   Kevin Motherway, Regional Co-ordinator, CARO – NbS for climate action

12:00-12:15   Padraig Cronin, ACRES Project, & Daniel Hayden, Farming for Water EIP – Nature based solutions in agricultural landscapes – Leveraging agri-environment scheme opportunities to scale up NbS on farms

12:15-12:30   Meadhbh Bolger, Biodiversity Officer, The Heritage Council – NbS to enhance Biodiversity – Increasing the Biodiversity ambition within NbS

12.30-12.45   Hans Visser, Fingal Biodiversity Officer – Delivering NbS Projects in Fingal – Synergies in Water & Biodiversity                         

THEME 3: RIVERINE                                              

14.00-14.20   Conor Galvin and Lorcan Scott, OPW – Nature-based Solutions for Flood Risk Management. Biodiversity implications & elements associated with NbS

14.20-14.35   Declan Cooke, IFI – IFI and Nature-based Solutions

THEME 4: COASTAL                                               

14.35-14.50   Katherine Cronin, DHLGH Marine Environment – Nature-based solutions in Ireland’s marine and coastal areas and the Nature Restoration Regulation

14.50-15.05   Susann Milenkovski  Region Skåne, Sweden – Eelgrass Restoration 

15.05-15.20   Dr. Todd S. Bridges, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, USA – Advancing Nature-based Solutions for People and the Planet                              

THEME 5: PRIVATE SECTOR                                            

15.40-15.55   Pat Roberts, Principal Ecologist MKO (CIEEM) – Challenges to Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions

15.55-16.10   Oisin Griffin, Head of Landscape & Urban Design, Cairn Homes – Nature-based Solutions – Developers Perspective

16.10-16.40   Panel Discussion (including Q&A) Upscaling & Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions – Challenges & opportunities

  • Nicholas Fettes, Ecologist – Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine – Agri Environmental Schemes
  • Eimear O’Keeffe, Water Policy Advisor – Department of Housing Local Government & Heritage – Water Policy
  • Seosamh Ó Laoi, Climate – Department of Environment Climate & Communications
  • Joe Seymour, Assistant Director, Transport Planning and Investment – National Transport Agency
  • Dee Kehoe, Engineers Ireland

16.40-16.45   Closing Remarks – Anthony Coleman, Director of Services, Local Authority Waters Programme

Nature-based Solutions Conference 2024

 

In May 2024, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan T.D, opened the Nature-Based Solutions Conference – to Protect and Restore Water Quality in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). Organised by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), with a number of supporting partners, it brings together international and Irish experts to share their experiences and ideas for the upscaling and mainstreaming of nature-based solutions.

The conference focuses on urban, rural, riverine and coastal areas and draws from practical, on-the-ground examples, with an examination of policy and finding opportunities to implement solutions.

At the conference, Minister Noonan also launched two important documents:

  •  A national strategy for the implementation of nature-based solutions.
  •  A template guidance document on managing rainwater for local authorities.

Programme

Chair: Dr Fran Igoe, Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)

10:00 – 10:10     Welcome Address: Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan, President, DkIT (02:50)

10.10 – 10.20     Ministerial Address: Minister Malcom Noonan, T.D. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform (07:04)

Theme 1: Urban

10.20 – 10.30    Introduction to ResiRiver INTERREG NW Europe: Stanford Wilson, Project Manager, EU Interreg project ResiRiver 8 + advisor Flood Risk Management, The Netherlands (23:30)

10:30 – 10:40      Nature-based Solutions Implementation Strategy for Ireland (Launch): Adrian Conway, Project Lead, NBS Strategy (37:55)

10.40- 10.50       Nature-based Solutions: the private sector view: Pat Roberts, MKO: Ireland Planning & Environmental Consultancy (51:30)

10.50 – 11:00     Recast of the Urban Wastewater Directive, NBS and Integrated Urban Wastewater Management Plans. Francis Finnerty, Wastewater Networks, Performance Manager, Uisce Eireann (1:03:15)

Theme 2: Rural

11:30 – 11:40       Nature-based Solutions to protect and restore Water Quality, The Farming for Water EIP: Mairead Whitty, Project Manager, LAWPRO (1:17:45)

11.40 – 11.55       Coillte Nature- Restoring Woodlands for multiple benefits by working with nature: Dr Declan Little, Ecological Lead, Coillte (1:28:20)

Theme 2: Youth

11.55 –  12.05    Implementing Nature-based Solutions on school grounds through science-based exploration: representative from St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk (1:40:25)

Q & A Session (1:51:50)

Theme 4: Riverine

13:30 – 13:35    Focus on Rivers – setting the scene: Dr Suzanne Linnane, Director, Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, DkIT (2:13:45)

13:35 – 13:45     Nature-based Solutions: An Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) perspective: Karen Kelly. Ecologist, Habitat Management team, IFI. (2:16:40)

13:45 – 13:55     ResiRiver partner cases study – challenges with applying Nature-based Solutions in the Lys river basin (France): Victoria Soubeiran, CPIE CPIE (2:28:00)

13:55 – 14:10      Applying Nature-based Solutions in Urban settings: global perspectives: Defne Osmanoglou- RWS & World Bank (2:40:30)

Q & A Session (3:00:25)

Theme 5: Coastal

15.00 – 15:10      Dutch Coastal Management Strategy: Is it nature based?: Quirijn Lodder, Principal Advisor at Rijkswaterstaatm (3:14:30)

15:10 – 15:20     Enhancing Nature-based Solutions in Marine and Coastal Area: Policy drivers and ambitions: Dr Katherine Cronin, Scientific Policy Advisor, Marine Environment Section, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (3:26:10)

15:20 – 15:30     The challenges of implementing coastal and marine Nature-based Solutions in Ireland: Dr Eugene Farrell, Lecturer & Researcher, University of Galway (3:37:35)

Q & A Session (3:51:00)

Theme 6: Panel discussion on policy and next steps

A vision for Nature-based solutions as a driver for Nature Restoration: Dr. Norma O’Hea, Ecohydrologist, National Parks and Wildlife Service (04:06:10)

Panel discussion on policy and next steps: Nature-based solutions- building nature-based solutions into land use management (04:21:00)

16:30     Closing remarks: Anthony Coleman, Director, Local Authority Waters Programme. (04:42:50)