Tuesday, 27th of May 2025: Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, welcomes the Nature-based Solutions Conference – To Protect and Restore Urban, Rural, Coastal and Riverine Environments. Hosted by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), with a number of supporting partners, the conference will take place on the 4th and 5th of June 2025 in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), Dundalk, Co. Louth.
The conference is free of charge and open to all. It will be of particular interest to those wanting to understand and incorporate Nature-based Solutions into urban, rural and coastal environments.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Minister O’Sullivan said: “Nature-based Solutions have a large role to play in protecting water quality by helping to create climate resilience and improving biodiversity. We need more solutions to environmental issues that work with nature rather than trying to control it. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimate that one third of climate mitigation needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, can be provided by Nature-based Solutions. This conference will bring together experts who can share their experience and ideas for how to integrate and mainstream Nature-based Solutions into water management practice.”
Climate change, water shortages, flooding, and the loss of biodiversity are creating serious challenges in today’s society. While reducing waste and consumption remains essential, there are also ways to harness the power of nature to strengthen our resilience.
Nature-based Solutions use the natural environment such as soil, plants, and landscape design to help manage climate risks. These methods can reduce flooding and drought impacts, improve water quality by filtering pollutants, and support biodiversity.
By working with nature, not against it, we can build healthier, more sustainable places to live. Consequently, Nature-based Solutions have the ability to provide multiple sustainable benefits including but not limited to:
- The management and control of surface water run-off / slowing the flow i.e. Climate Mitigation.
- Improving Water Quality through its ability to treat surface water run-off.
- Increasing biodiversity and amenity value in public realm areas by the introduction of plants, making for more ecologically valuable and more attractive places (greening in the grey).
The second Irish Nature-based Solutions conference organised by the Local Authority Waters Programme will provide a focus on the use of Nature-based Solutions technologies suitable for Ireland, drawing from international and local experts, professionals and practitioners from the public and private sectors.
This is a two-day conference event. Day 1 will focus on upscaling and mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions to protect and restore urban, rural, coastal and riverine environments. Day 2 will consist of masterclass workshops focusing on the following themes: urban Nature-based Solutions, River Restoration and Coastal Restoration.
Further details on the event, including attendance options are provided at the time of registration. Register to attend here:
Event: Nature-based Solutions Conference 4th-5th June 2025 – Local Authority Waters Programme
Speaking about the conference Dr Fran Igoe, Regional Coordinator with LAWPRO said: “Although the application of Nature-based Solutions is something new to many people in Ireland, our ancestors have been applying Nature-based Solutions techniques for millennia, from rainwater harvesting to planting of hedgerows. Basically, any technique that harnesses nature or is informed by nature is a Nature-based Solutions technique and we see them all around us, from sustainable agriculture using practices in harmony with the environment to planting trees in urban spaces. This conference aims to go deeper and specifically showcase projects and techniques being mainstreamed and upscaled to address the emerging modern-day challenges within the Irish societal context.”
For more information on the work of LAWPRO please visit: www.lawaters.ie.
ENDS
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
DAY 1: Wednesday, 4th June
- T.K WHITAKER BUILDING, DUNDALK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, A91 K584 – Virtual Map
9.30-10.00 REGISTRATION AND TEA / COFFEE
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
11.25-11.45 TEA/COFFEE BREAK – NETWORKING
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
12.45-14.00 LUNCH
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 (Remote Presentation)
15.05-15.20 Dr. Todd S. Bridges, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, USA – Advancing Nature-based Solutions for People and the Planet
15.20- 15.40 TEA/COFFEE BREAK -NETWORKING
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 NbS – Challenges & opportunities
Discussion with representatives from the various organisations, working in key sectors to give their views on where the future of Nature-Based Solutions is in 2025, and what direction of travel your organisation would like to see.
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
Jason Taylor, Department of Housing Local Government & Heritage – Planning
Joe Seymour, Assistant Director, Transport Planning and Investment – National Transport Agency
Dee Kehoe, Engineers Ireland
16.40-16.45 Closing Remarks – Day 1 – Anthony Coleman, Director of Services, Local Authority Waters Programme
DAY 2: Thursday, 5th June
MASTERCLASS WORKSHOPS: THREE PARALLEL SESSIONS RUNNING FROM 10:00-13:00
9:45-10:00 Meet up at the theatre in Muirhevna Building for Workshop Orienteering
SESSION 1 URBAN
10:00-11:15 RAINWATER MANAGEMENT, PLANNING – Paul Singleton, McCloy Consulting
11:15-11:45 Tea/Coffee/Networking
11:45-13:00 BUILDING A RAINGARDEN – Stephen O’Malley, CEO CIVIC
SESSION 2 RIVER RESTORATION
10:00-11:15 RIVER RESTORATION IN IRELAND – Declan Cooke, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)
11:15-11:45 Tea/Coffee/Networking
11:45-13:00 WORKING WITH WILLOW –Declan Cullagh, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)
SESSION 3 COASTAL RESTORATION
10:00-11:15 OYSTER BED RESTORATION – Michael Officer, Programme Manager, Cuan Beo
11:15-11:45 Tea/Coffee/Networking
11:45-13:00 BEACH DUNE RESTORATION –Dr. Kevin Lynch, Geography Department, University of Galway
About Nature Based Solutions
The EU Commission defines Nature-based Solutions as “Solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience. Such solutions bring more, and more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted, resource-efficient and systemic interventions.”
Nature-based Solutions if delivered appropriately, can significantly contribute to addressing multiple societal challenges. Mitigation against pollution, coastal erosion, flooding as well as public wellbeing are all potential benefits. However, how we plan for, design and roll out Nature-based Solutions is critical. If Nature-based Solutions are to be delivered to their fullest potential there must be a clear understanding of what they are and how they can be implemented into projects at different scales. See more online here: https://lawaters.ie/nature-based-suds/
About Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) https://lawaters.ie/
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water through catchment science and local community engagement. LAWPRO was established to fulfil requirements under the European Union Water Framework Directive and is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. LAWPRO coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan.