Have Your Say on Ireland’s Draft National Nature Restoration Plan 2026
Link to the official consultation survey: Official Consultation Survey
This draft plan is Ireland's roadmap to meet binding EU targets and restore our natural world, from rivers and peatlands to towns and cities. While this initial draft sets out baseline technical data, the next phase must establish the clear actions, investments and levels of ambition needed to bring nature back into our daily lives.
To date, public engagement on urban nature targets has been limited and is one of the critical sections of Ireland’s draft plan that remains under-developed. Urban environments are often left out of the wider nature restoration conversation, yet integrating nature into where the majority of our population lives, works and gathers is essential.
While ACT works across many different landscapes and ecosystems to accelerate the green transition, we are focusing the below suggestions on urban environments and Article 8. To encourage increased submissions, particularly on Article 8 (Urban Ecosystems), below are 5 suggested points to consider. These are just some suggestions but the most important suggestion of all is to share your personal response of your own everyday experiences of streets, community spaces and local green areas.
The public consultation closes on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.
1. Article 8 to protect our communities from climate extremes
Protecting and expanding urban tree cover and green space is a necessity for climate adaptation. Thriving urban canopy and vegetation actively reduce the urban heat island effect, support urban biodiversity and protect our communities from severe weather events. The final plan must show high ambition for Article 8, meeting the EU Nature Restoration Law targets to prevent any net loss of urban green space and secure an upward trend in canopy cover across our built environments.
2. Treat urban nature as vital, interconnected public infrastructure
Nature-based solutions (NbS) and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDs) should be treated as essential infrastructure. Housing and development authorities must actively collaborate with civil society to integrate pocket parks, rain gardens and native planting directly into urban development from the very beginning.
3. Connecting ecosystem restoration and the public realm
Ecosystem restoration in built environments directly improves public mental health, physical wellbeing and community interaction. The final plan should explicitly link urban nature targets with a reimagined public realm. This means prioritising the creation of connected greenways, high-quality civic spaces, inclusive sensory gardens and tree-lined streets that weave into safe, active travel corridors, such as walking and cycling paths, ensuring everyone has equal everyday access to thriving natural spaces.
4. Mandate community co-design and transparent governance
We need a transparent governance framework with clear restoration timelines, independent monitoring and dedicated public funding to ensure urban restoration moves from a blank space in a technical template to real-world, measurable change on our streets.
5. Endorse the Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) recommendations
The recommendations provided by the IAC should guide the development of the final plan. The government must back these recommendations with secure, long-term funding mechanisms that empower local governments and community groups to maintain urban nature networks well into the future.
Consultation details
- Organiser: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
- How to submit: Complete the official online survey or email a comprehensive written response directly to
- Privacy: The survey is anonymous. Please do not include personal details in the body of your text. Submissions will be published on the Department's website with personal identifying information redacted.