Waterways Ireland has launched its Heritage & Biodiversity Plan 2030, building on the achievements of and learnings from previous plan. This plan sets out how Waterways Ireland will steward and enhance the 1,100km of navigable inland waterways within its remit over the next five years. It weaves together heritage and biodiversity management into a coherent strategy that cherishes and champions our waterways as living systems where natural habitats, historic structures and diverse communities coexist.
The plan focuses on three core objectives designed to ensure that our waterways heritage and biodiversity remains protected, accessible and aligned with national and international environmental commitments, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Recognising the importances of our waterways’ heritage and biodiversity to everyone, the public consultation process was designed to encourage and facilitate submissions from people with autism and hidden disabilities, older persons, volunteers, young people and families.
Shaped by one hundred and thirty-eight public submissions, the Plan outlines a clear pathway for the custodianship our shared inland waterways, ensuring their resilience for wildlife and ecosystems that depend on them, and ensuring continued enjoyment for local communities and visitors for generations to come.
The plan contains compelling visual interpretations of personal connections to our waterways, captured by members of the public who entered a photographic competition, which was organised in tandem with the development of the plan.
Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD said "Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said "Our inland waterways play a vital role in connecting communities across the island of Ireland, but they also play a vital role in connecting wildlife and habitats. As the people who use them know, towpaths and canal fringes can be real havens for nature - especially in our towns and cities. In our ecologically fragmented countryside meanwhile, their role as “wildlife corridors” that allow species to move from place to place is especially valuable. I’m delighted to be launching Waterways Ireland’s Biodiversity Plan, which demonstrates the organisation’s strong commitment to ensuring nature can thrive across all its sites."
Waterways Ireland Chief Executive John McDonagh said “This plan is not just about preserving the past; it is about ensuring a brighter future where generations to come continue to benefit from our waterways’ inspirational heritage and biodiversity. We are committed to working closely with our local communities, government bodies, and environmental organisations. We believe that by working together, we can create a legacy of appreciation and stewardship for these vital resources; the 2030 Plan is our promise to act decisively as custodians of the waterways.”