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 2026

We are excited to announce that the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Conference will take place again this year in Dundalk Institute of Technology on 10th and 11th  June 2026.

Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details, including registration information.

We look forward to seeing you all there.

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)