Minister Noonan launches national implementation strategy at Nature-Based Solutions Conference
Rainwater Management Planning Guidance launched for local authorities
Thursday 16 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) today. 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.
Minister Noonan launched two important documents, a national strategy for the implementation of nature-based solutions and a template guidance document on managing rainwater for local authorities.
Addressing the conference, Minister Noonan said:
“We are in an era of environmental change and need to look at ways we can incorporate nature-based solutions to protect and restore our urban, rural, coastal and riverine environments.
“I am delighted to launch the ‘Nature-Based Management of Urban Rainwater and Urban Surface Water Discharges’ and the ‘Rainwater Management Planning – Guidance for Local Authorities’ today. Working together, several departments and agencies collaborated to create this strategy as a roadmap to bring urban Nature-based Solutions into the mainstream in Ireland. This is a live document, and its steering group will continue to oversee its implementation of urban nature-based solutions in the years ahead.
“I am also pleased to publish the ‘Rainwater Management Planning Guidance’ document for local authorities, an information document that will assist them in the decision making at settlement level.”
Nature-based solutions can significantly contribute to addressing multiple societal challenges. The International Union of Conservation Concern estimate that one third of climate mitigation, needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, can be provided by nature-based solutions.
Dr Fran Igoe, Regional Coordinator in LAWPRO said: “Nature-based solutions can play an important role in protecting water quality, biodiversity and assisting in efforts to address climate change, but nature-based solutions need to be upscaled and mainstreamed to be effective.
“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. To be delivered there must be a clear understanding of what they are and how they can be implemented into projects at different scales.
“We are delighted to host this conference in Ireland- the first of its kind. It shows the progress we are making in bringing together the sectors and developing policy supports. This is an exciting opportunity for Ireland to develop best practice through collaborations with our European colleagues in the ResiRiver Interreg project with both private and public bodies across the country.”
For further information please visit: https://lawaters.ie/one-day-conference-nature-based-solutions/
ENDS
Nature-Based Solutions to protect and restore
Urban, Rural, Coastal and Riverine environments
Thursday, 16th May 2024
Programme
09:30-10.00 Registration and Tea/Coffee
Chair: Dr Fran Igoe, Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome Address: Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan, President, DkIT
10.10 – 10.20 Ministerial Address: Minister Malcom Noonan, T.D. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage, and Electoral Reform
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
10:30 – 10:40 Nature-based Solutions Implementation Strategy for Ireland (Launch): Adrian Conway, Project Lead, NBS Strategy
10.40- 10.50 Nature-based Solutions: the private sector view: Pat Roberts, MKO: Ireland Planning & Environmental Consultancy
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
11.00 – 11:30 Tea/Coffee break – Networking
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
11.40 – 11.55 Coillte Nature – Restoring Woodlands for multiple benefits by working with nature: Dr Declan Little, Ecological Lead, Coillte
Theme 3: Youth
11.55 – 12.05 Implementing Nature-based Solutions on school grounds through science-based exploration: representative from St. Vincent’s, Secondary School, Dundalk
Q & A Session
12:15 – 13:30 Lunch: Poster Session and Networking
A selection of posters showcasing Nature-based Solutions case studies and plans will be on display.
Theme 4: Riverine
13:30 – 13:35 Focus on Rivers – setting the scene: Dr Suzanne Linnane, Director, Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, DkIT
13:35 – 13:45 Nature-based Solutions: An Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) perspective: Karen Kelly. Ecologist, Habitat Management team, IFI
13:45 – 13:55 ResiRiver partner cases study – challenges with applying Nature-based Solutions in the Lys river basin (France): Victoria Soubeiran, CPIE
13:55 – 14:10 Applying Nature-based Solutions in Urban settings: global perspectives: Defne Osmanoglou- RWS & World Bank
Q & A Session
14:30-15:00 Tea/Coffee break: Networking
Theme 5: Coastal
15.00 – 15:10 Dutch Coastal Management Strategy: Is it nature based?
Quirijn Lodder, Principal Advisor at Rijkswaterstaatm
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
15:20 – 15:30 The challenges of implementing coastal and marine Nature-based Solutions in Ireland: Dr Eugene Farrell, Lecturer & Researcher, University of Galway
Q & A Session
Theme 6: Panel discussion on Policy and next steps
15.45 – 15.55 A vision for Nature-based solutions as a driver for Nature Restoration: Dr. Norma O’Hea, Ecohydrologist, National Parks and Wildlife Service
15.55 – 16.25 Panel discussion on policy and next steps: Nature-based solutions – building Nature-based Solutions into land use management
16.25 – 16:30 Closing remarks: Anthony Coleman, Director, Local Authority Waters Programme
About Nature Based Solutions
Nature-based Solutions if delivered appropriately, can significantly contribute to addressing multiple societal challenges. The International Union of Conservation Concern estimate that one third of climate mitigation needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement can be provided by Nature-based Solutions.
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/
For media information:
Sadhbh O’Neill
Communications & Engagement Lead
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)
T: 085 850 0409
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.