The plan, which was launched today, aims to address falling numbers of the bird.
A new plan aimed at saving an Irish bird facing extinction is being described as a 'missed opportunity.'
The Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan was launched in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Laois today.
The proposals have been in the works for over a decade, during which time the bird has seen a 33% decline in population.
It's estimated there are only around 100 pairs of Hen Harriers left in Ireland, with the bird possibly facing extinction in the next 25 years.
Agriculture and Land Use Policy and Advocacy Officer with the Environmental Pillar, Fintan Kelly, says those fears remain, despite the new plan:
The Hen Harrier is a territorial ground-nesting bird of prey, which typically breeds in open upland bog, heather moorland, and other associated habitats
A 2022 survey found a significant decline in the population of the bird in Ireland, when compared to a study in 2015.
It's estimated there were between 85 and 108 pairs in the country two years ago, a fall from somewhere in the region of 108 and 157 pairs nine years ago.
The plan recognises the importance of landowners and farming communities in improving the habitat for the Hen Harrier and the need for supports and incentives to engage them in conservation.
Speaking at the launch of the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan, Minister Malcolm Noonan said:
"The publication of the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to prevent the extinction of our precious Skydancer.
The plight of this iconic bird highlights the broader issues we face both nationally and globally in tackling the biodiversity crisis, and its future is very much in our hands.
It’s vital that we now focus urgently and strategically on implementation.
We must seize the opportunities presented in this Plan to deliver meaningful change to the management of our landscapes and protect our most vulnerable species."
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