Wildlife Crime & Conservation Conference 2023
Date: 30th September & 1st October 2023
Saturday’s theme is Wildlife Crime: Justice for Nature
Sunday’s theme is Conservation: How to Nurture Nature
Venue: The Glenview Hotel, Glen of the Downs, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
This conference presents a valuable networking opportunity for all sectors with an interest in tackling wildlife crime or working towards the conservation of Ireland’s heritage.
Jointly hosted by PAW Ireland, USPCA, WRI
Programme – Saturday 30th Sept 2023
Wildlife Crime: Justice for Nature
08.30 | Registration & Coffee | ||||||
09.00 | Welcome address |
Seosaimhín McCarren (WRI) | |||||
09.10 | Protecting wildlife for a healthy planet | Chair: Pádraic Fogarty |
|||||
09.30 | NPWS role in prevention and prosecution of wildlife crime | .. | Suzanne Nally (Principal Officer for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Enforcement and Nature Protection) | ||||
09.50 | .. | Wildlife Crime – What has been achieved | Emma Meredith (PSNI Wildlife Liaison Officer) | ||||
10.10 | Rationale for dedicated unit to provide investigative support to law enforcement agencies | Chief Inspector Kevin Kelly (Head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit UK) | |||||
10.30 | Effecting change via the political system. Panel Q&A | Jennifer Whitmore (TD Social Democrats, Spokesperson for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Energy) Panel: Niall, Emma, Kevin, Jennifer | |||||
10.50 | Coffee | ||||||
11.10 | An Garda Síochána’s role in the prevention of wildlife crime | Chief Superintendent Ann Markey, (Crime Legal, An Garda Síochána) & Det Sgt James King (Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation) | |||||
11.30 | Inland Fisheries Ireland wildlife crime enforcement team training & structure | Francis O’Donnell (CEO, Inland Fisheries Ireland) | |||||
11.50 | PAW Ireland & PAW App – raising the profile and reporting of wildlife crimes | Damien Hannigan (Irish Deer Commission, PAW Ireland) | |||||
12.10 | Badger Baiting within Northern Ireland | Ian Lyle (USPCA Special Investigations Unit) | |||||
12.30 | Justice for Nature and the Nature of Justice. Panel Q&A | Kieran Buckley (Regional Manager, NPWS). Panel: Ann, James, Francis, Damien, Ian, Kieran | |||||
12.50 | Lunch | ||||||
1.30 | Identifying signs and symptoms of wildlife crime casualties | Dr Alan Wolfe (Veterinary pathologist UCD) | |||||
2.00 | Round table discussion
Reflect and Renew – can we provide justice for nature |
Panel: Dr Micheál Ó Cinnéide (NPWS Review joint author, Retired Director EPA & Marine Institute), Jennifer W., NPWS, Niall Sargent (journalist – Noteworthy) | |||||
2.50 | Coffee | ||||||
3.10 | Preserving evidence at a crime scene | Mícheál Casey (Dept of Agriculture, Food & the Marine) | |||||
3.45 | Round table discussion
‘What’s Stopping Us From Addressing Wildlife Crime in Ireland: Challenges & Opportunities’ |
Panel: Niamh Guiry (UCC School of Law),Mícheál C, NPWS, | |||||
4.45 |
Close | ||||||
5.15pm | Trip to Avoca for Red kite roosting wildlife spectacle! | Marc Ruddock (Red Kite Project Manager for the Golden Eagle Trust) |
Programme – Sunday 1st Oct 2023
Conservation: How to Nurture Nature
08.30 | Registration & Coffee | |||
Theme: Protecting our wildlife; are we really? | ||||
09.00 | Welcome address | Seosaimhín McCarren (WRI) |
||
09.10 | The urgent need to address our environmental crisis | Chair: Karen Ciesielski (Irish Environmental Network CEO) | ||
09.30 | Changing attitudes – the views of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss | Dr Micheál Ó Cinnéide (NPWS Review joint author, Retired Director EPA & Marine Institute) | ||
09.50 | Nurturing Nature: Fostering Community Stewardship | Dr Brendan Dunford (Burrenbeo Trust) | ||
10.10 | Reducing your environmental impact | James Orr (Friends of the Earth NI) | ||
10.30 | Addressing the threat and impacts of Invasive Alien Species to protect Ireland’s Wildlife | Martina O’Brien (Invasive Species Engagement Officer, National Biodiversity Data Centre) | ||
10.50 | Coffee | |||
Theme: Potential solutions | ||||
11.10 | A vision of facilities for rehabilitating Irish wildlife | Dr Michael Gunn (Veterinary Surgeon and retired Director of Laboratories DAFM, WRI Director) | ||
11.30 | Rights of Nature: Origins, Development and Possibilities for the Island of Ireland | Dr Peter Doran (Environmental Justice Network Ireland, Senior Lecturer, School of Law – Queens NI) | ||
11.50 | The role of the media as a custodian for the environment | Niall Sargent (Journalist ‘Noteworthy’) | ||
12.10 | Counteracting the dramatic adverse changes on Ireland’s natural biodiversity | Ronan Hannigan (The Eco Restoration Trust) | ||
12.30 | Weaving a patchwork of safe havens for nature globally. | Mary Reynolds (reformed landscape designer, The Ark project) | ||
12.50 | Lunch | |||
Theme: Debunking the myths | ||||
1.30 | Air, Soil & Water: Environmental DNA for biodiversity and wildlife monitoring and conservation | Dr David Duffy (Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience -University of Florida, and WRI Director) | ||
2.00 | Round Table Discussion
Debunking sustainability myths and misconceptions |
Chair John Gibbons (Environmental journalist) Panel: Mary, Fintan Kelly (Irish Environmental Network) | ||
2.50 | Coffee | |||
3.10 | Round Table Discussion
From recommendations to realisations |
Chair: Fintan Kelly. Panel: Micheál, Brendan, Peter | ||
4.00 | Biodiversity and the everything emergency | John Gibbons (Environmental journalist) | ||
4.45pm |
.. | Close & Raffle | .. |
Speakers
We were delighted to welcome the following guest speakers to our Conference:
Pádraic FogartyEcologistPádraic Fogarty is an ecologist and former campaign officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust. He is author of the 2017 book ‘Whittled Away: Ireland’s Vanishing Nature’. |
Ann MarkeyChief SuperintendentAn Garda Síochána |
Francis O’ DonnellChief Executive OfficerInland Fisheries Ireland
|
Marc RuddockRed Kite Project ManagerGolden Eagle Trust |
2023 WILDLIFE CRIME & CONSERVATION CONFERENCE
Progress made since 2013
In 2013, Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland hosted Ireland’s first Wildlife Crime Conference, which brought together members of An Garda Síochána, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Inland Fisheries Ireland, veterinary practitioners, animal welfare and conservation groups and interested general public, to raise awareness of, and discuss the various issues surrounding, wildlife crime in Ireland.
Following on from this All-Ireland Wildlife Crime Conference, subsequent ones were held in 2015, 2020 (virtually due to the pandemic), 2022, and this one in 2023.
One of the aims of these conferences was to highlight the work ‘behind the scenes’ i.e. the lengths that dedicated wildlife crime enforcement staff such as NPWS Conservation staff go to in order to bring wildlife crime offenders to court.
If the general public and government agencies are made aware of the tireless work that goes on day and night in the fight against wildlife crime, it will encourage increased reporting and, hopefully, result in serious government investment in wildlife protection resources to respond to these reports.
Since 2013, these Wildlife Crime Conferences have consistently aimed to create real awareness of the ongoing efforts to combat wildlife crime. This awareness, both within the public and government agencies, must lead to more accurate reporting and a serious investment in the resources necessary to not only prevent but also successfully prosecute wildlife crime.
It’s important to give historical context to developments within the statutory agencies responsible for enforcement of the Wildlife Acts so below is a timeline of the past four years.
Timeline of Recent Wildlife Crime Developments in Ireland
The NPWS is the main State organisation working in the area of ecosystem and wildlife conservation. Established in 2003, it is an Executive Agency with statutory functions. The NPWS are designated as authorised officers under the 1976 Wildlife Acts and 2011 European Community (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations. The NPWS has been chronically under-resourced and under-funded for some time, a fact that has led to a national review and reform of its structure and responsibilities:
October 2020: The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future included the intention to review the ‘remit, status, and funding’ of the NPWS to ensure that the organisation was capable of carrying out its wildlife protection and enforcement activities. Also announced this month were plans to establish a specialised Irish wildlife crime unit.
March 2021: A public consultation was launched as part of the Strategic Review of the NPWS. Some of the main submission themes received from members of the public related to the creation of a well- resourced, ambitious, independent body capable of addressing Ireland’s most pressing wildlife conservation, protection, and restoration challenges, alongside support for the establishment of an Irish wildlife crime unit. From the online survey aspect of the consultation, the overriding consensus that emerged was that the NPWS had not realised its principal objectives.
June 2021: The Launch of Joint Protocol Between National Parks & Wildlife Service & An Garda Síochána on Wildlife Crime to tackle wildlife crime in Ireland, which established a close strategic relationship between the two bodies and allowed for cooperative operations and the sharing of data and resources. It was also outlined that a Wildlife Crime Liaison Inspector would be assigned in each Garda Division and NPWS staff would provide guidance related to the Wildlife Act to Garda personnel.
June 2021: Publication of the independent review of the NPWS by Stout and Ó Cinnéide ‘Review of the NPWS 2021: Final report on the key findings and recommendations’. The overwhelming message of the report was that the current form of the NPWS was not fit for purpose and that immediate change was needed, both in the context of reforming the NPWS and addressing biodiversity protection inadequacies on a national level. The report outlined that the chronic under-investment of the NPWS had contributed to the ‘failure to properly implement all aspects of the EU Nature Directives’ resulting in compliance proceedings against Ireland led by the European Commission. Altogether, the report recommended the comprehensive transformation of the NPWS to facilitate positive long-term change.
February 2022: Publication of the Kearney review ‘Reflect and Renew – A Review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service’ which used an ‘organisation, governance and systems lens’ to explore the NPWS. It gave a number of recommendations concerning NPWS governance structures, human resources, communications, and on a legislative level, the review called for the revision of the ‘statutory underpinnings for our National Parks and the work of the NPWS’ to strengthen, support, and define its operation and conservation functions.
May 2022: In light of the findings of the NPWS Strategic Review, the Strategic Action Plan for the renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) 2022-2024 was announced. The multi-phase four-year plan aims to ensure that the NPWS is fully resourced with a ‘robust organisational structure to deliver fully on its mandate and play its part in Ireland’s response to the biodiversity emergency, on the national and international stage’.
June 2022: The original proposal to establish the Irish wildlife crime unit was withdrawn in June 2022. Alternatively, it was decided to increase the number of general wildlife rangers.
June 2023: Publication of the 1st NPWS Strategic Plan 2023-25. Informed by the reviews and public consultation that were carried out as part of the NPWS Strategic Review, the Strategic Plan sets out the NPWS core mission (to protect nature), its core values (including partnership, transparency, accountability) and key priorities and strategic goals until 2025.
(Niamh Guiry)
Wildlife Crime Conferences 2013 – 2022
The 2013 conference was a sobering event reflective of the wildlife crime situation in Ireland at that time; the 2015 conference, in contrast, was able to show that where there’s a will there’s a way, and presented a very much more positive and hopeful outlook.
The devastating mass poisoning of 23 Buzzards occurred in Dec 2019 in County Cork, using the banned pesticide carbofuran. This event in combination with continuous illegal persecution of wildlife led to the formation of PAW Ireland. PAW Ireland was established in 2020 with twelve member organisations. Its principle aims included increasing awareness of wildlife crime and advising on related issues and regulatory challenges.
The 2020 conference, despite being held online, had huge attendance and began on an extremely positive note with Minister Darragh O’Brien announcing the decision to create a Wildlife Crime Unit within the NPWS and a recruitment campaign for more staff “to fight wildlife crime”.
“We are in the midst of a biodiversity and climate crisis and this funding [in the 2021 budget] for NPWS reflects the Programme for Government response to both these areas. I am delighted to announce today that this increase in funding will allow me to establish a Wildlife Crime Unit within the NPWS in 2021.”
In Summer 2022 a decision was made to withdraw the Wildlife Crime Unit and instead increase the number of conservation rangers. This was raised as a disappointment at the joint PAW Ireland / WRI 2022 Wildlife Crime & Conservation Conference but the resounding sentiment from that conference was inspiration – that we can all ‘do more’ and make a difference in the challenge to conserve our precious wildlife heritage.
The 2023 Wildlife Crime & Conservation Conference
This Conference was jointly hosted by the Partnership for Action against Wildlife crime (PAW Ireland), Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland (WRI), and the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA).
This All-Ireland Wildlife Crime Conference was held in the Glenview Hotel in Wicklow on the 30th of September and the 1st of October and addressed by a diverse group of 24 eminent national and international individuals who spoke on two themes; Justice for Nature, and How to Nurture Nature.
DAY 1
Saturday’s Chairperson, Pádraic Fogarty (ecologist and environmental scientist) made an opening address on Saturday morning on the crucial need to protect wildlife for a healthy planet, our failings in this regard and how improvements could be made.
Suzanne Nally (Principal Officer for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Enforcement and Nature Protection) gave an overview of the NPWS’ role in the prevention and prosecution of wildlife crime, the new Wildlife Crime Directorate’s role in this, and how NPWS goes about its mission ‘to protect nature’.
Emma Meredith (PSNI Wildlife Liaison Officer) sent a video presentation describing the multiple successful operations to combat wildlife crime that have been undertaken by the PSNI and that she as the Wildlife Liaison Officer has been involved with.
Chief Inspector Kevin Kelly (Head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit UK) came over from the UK to explain the role of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the rationale for this unit which provides dedicated investigative support to law enforcement agencies.
Jennifer Whitmore (TD Social Democrats, Spokesperson for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Energy) gave a motivational talk on the purpose and usefulness of politicians and parties for those who want to influence policy. She encouraged everyone to make their voice heard and that they are there to represent the people so not to underestimate the power of public pressure.
Chief Superintendent Ann Markey (Crime Legal, An Garda Síochána) and Det Sgt James King (Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation) provided an overview of AGS’s role in the investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime. They explained the role of xx Unit and talked of their collaboration and training with NPWS on wildlife crime.
Francis O’Donnell (CEO, Inland Fisheries Ireland) gave an impactful presentation about the importance of IFI’s work, the extraordinary lengths the IFI enforcement staff go to when investigating wildlife crimes, the large volume of prosecutions taken, the equipment they have and techniques they employ, and the dangers their staff face.
Damien Hannigan (Irish Deer Commission, PAW Ireland) explained how PAW Ireland came about, its mission to raise awareness of both the barbaric acts of wildlife crime, and those that the public may not know are illegal. He explained how the ‘PAW Ireland’ wildlife crime reporting App is free to download and is an invaluable tool to facilitate reporting of suspicious incidents to the authorities.
Ian Lyle and Alan Ward (USPCA Special Investigations Unit) shared a disturbing presentation on the true scale of in excess of 150 active badger baiters in Northern Ireland, where it takes place, the profile of the offenders, the suffering of the dogs and badgers involved, and how individuals end up committing these barbaric acts.
Probing questions were then taken by a panel of the speakers from the morning sessions, from an informed and passionate audience after the presentation by Kieran Buckley (Regional Manager, NPWS) on ‘Justice for Nature and the Nature of Justice’ – cases Kieran has taken and the hazards and difficulties in bringing them to a successful conclusion.
Dr Alan Wolfe (Veterinary pathologist UCD) provided a fascinating introduction to the work of a veterinary pathologist, what animals and injuries they come across and how they ascertain the manner in which the injuries were inflicted. He also explained how veterinary pathologists can play a vital role in bringing a wildlife crime prosecution case to a successful conclusion.
Mícheál Casey (Dept of Agriculture, Food & the Marine) gave an illustrated presentation on the vitally important aspect of the correct techniques for preserving evidence at a crime scene if it is to be used as evidence in a prosecution. A case can frustratingly be dismissed if someone neglects simple steps so this information is provided at each of our wildlife crime conferences.
The afternoon was dedicated to delegate group discussions followed by questions and answer sessions with a panel of speakers from the morning presentations, plus Dr Micheál Ó Cinnéide (NPWS Review joint author, Retired Director EPA & Marine Institute), Niamh Guiry (UCC School of Law) and Niall Sargent (Journalist – Noteworthy).
The first session was ‘Reflect and Renew – can we provide justice for nature’, the other ‘What’s stopping us from addressing wildlife crime in Ireland: challenges and opportunities’. The delegate discussions roused strong feelings and resulted in challenging questions that were all discussed in detail with the panel.
The public were looking for answers regarding the Wildlife Crime Unit, suggesting more interagency and NGO cooperation and information sharing, and that work has been done but there is much more to do if we are to adequately protect and provide justice for wildlife.
To bring the day beautifully to a close, Marc Ruddock (Red Kite Project Manager for the Golden Eagle Trust) led a Red kite walk and talk in Avoca, Co Wicklow where delegates got to watch the spectacular display of the resident kites coming in to roost for the night.
DAY 2
Chairperson for Sunday was Karen Ciesielski (Irish Environmental Network CEO), who opened the ‘Conservation’ day of the Conference with the rationale for the urgent need to address our environmental crisis.
Dr Micheál Ó Cinnéide (NPWS Review joint author, Retired Director EPA & Marine Institute) gave a positive presentation – that attitudes are changing for the better with regard to protecting biodiversity, this he based on the views of the individuals involved in the momentous ‘Citizen’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss’
Dr Brendan Dunford (Burrenbeo Trust) gave an uplifting and motivating talk about the activities, involvement and positive benefits of the community stewardship projects that the Trust run in Co Clare, and how they can be, and now are, being replicated and rolled out nationwide.
James Orr (Friends of the Earth NI) gave a moving talk on the situation of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. It’s a cultural jewel and an ecological gem but is being destroyed especially over the past 10yrs by phosphorus and ammonia pollution – agricultural intensification. This is an ecological disaster and a wildlife crime that has been ongoing for decades by the state of a so called ‘protected’ site. What’s happening to Lough Neagh is microcosm of what’s happening to the planet.
Martina O’Brien (Invasive Species Engagement Officer, National Biodiversity Data Centre) told the delegates about the often unseen or neglected impacts of Alien Invasive Species and the threats the different species pose to Ireland’s wildlife.
Dr Michael Gunn (Veterinary Surgeon and retired Director of Laboratories DAFM, WRI Director) talked about how the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 recognised that since animals are sentient beings, their welfare requirements should be met, however scientific reports may be needed to support this before wildlife receives legal welfare protection to supplement the existing Wildlife protection Acts. He also explained the requirements for, and opportunities provided by a professionally run wildlife rehabilitation and referral facility.
Dr Peter Doran (Environmental Justice Network Ireland, Senior Lecturer, School of Law – Queens NI) gave a presentation on the popular topic/movement of ‘Rights of Nature’. He spoke about the origins, development and possibilities for the Island of Ireland after the amazing achievements already made elsewhere in the world.
Niall Sargent (Journalist ‘Noteworthy’) explained the importance of journalists, the role of the media as a custodian for the environment, that investigative journalists can hold organisations/individuals to account, they can give a voice to the natural world, and how best to provide the information journalists need to create a powerful story that will lead to positive action for the environment.
Ronan Hannigan (The Eco Restoration Trust, and Golden Eagle Trust) The impressive achievements of the Golden Eagle Trust, Ireland’s reintroduction projects, and how conservation ultimately is all about public engagement and changing attitudes of state bodies, hunting groups, and the general public if reintroductions are to succeed.
Mary Reynolds (reformed landscape designer, The Ark project) gave a passionate talk. It is vital that the world wake up and start caring for nature, and weaving a patchwork of safe havens for nature ‘Arks’ is an easily achievable beginning that we can all do in our own areas, parks, schools or gardens.
Dr David Duffy (Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience -University of Florida, and WRI Director) got everyone thinking about the vast possibilities for the research he’s undertaking. Dave explained his work in Florida and recently in Ireland on environmental DNA and the huge role it could play in biodiversity and wildlife monitoring and conservation.
The afternoon was delegate group discussions on the theme of conservation today. Questions were discussed on the subjects of ‘Debunking sustainability myths and misconceptions’, and ‘From recommendations to realisations’ These were lively sessions chaired by Chair John Gibbons (Environmental journalist) and Fintan Kelly (Irish Environmental Network) and discussed with the panel of speakers from throughout the day.
John Gibbons provided the final talk of the Conference – a hard-hitting dose of reality about how the media is portraying the climate crisis, how there is a communications failure to the public over global warming, and that we need courage not hope to face climate change.
Over the course of the two days the delegates were able to chat to and purchase crafts from various wildlife charities and impressive wildlife artists during the networking coffee breaks.
It was an extremely successful event with excellent feedback, an amazing line up of speakers who are leaders in their fields and who generously gave up their weekend to provide fascinating insights and answers to thought provoking and frank questions.
Thanks to the NPWS for a donation of €2000 towards Conference costs