SOME 170 LANDOWNERS with over 2,300 hectares of land between them have joined a programme aimed at protecting Ireland’s most vulnerable bird species.

The Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership aims to secure existing Breeding Wader populations and support population recovery.

Breeding wader species include curlew, redshank, lapwing and snipe and several species of wading bird breed in wetland, heathland and coastal habitats.

These species have faced severe population declines in recent decades.

Since its launch in May 2024, the project has focused on practical, science‑led measures including habitat management, predator control, water level management, and reducing disturbance during the critical nesting season (March to July).

The 2,340 hectares now under active conservation management represent some of the most important ecosystems for Ireland’s breeding waders.

The Breeding Waders EIP team has said it will continue to expand support for participating landowners, with further training events, habitat assessments, and monitoring planned throughout the life of the project.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, noted that while many species of birds in Ireland are under threat, the breeding waders in particular have seen massive declines over the last number of years.

“Through the efforts of the team at the Breeding Waders EIP and the enthusiasm of the landowners who are volunteering to take part in this collaborative project, I am hopeful that we will start to see a reversal of these trends,” said O’Sullivan.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, meanwhile remarked that it is “great to see such positive engagement from farmers and other land-owners with the Breeding Waders EIP project”.

“A project of this scale and ambition relies heavily on land-owner support and collaboration is essential to securing and improving breeding wader populations which is the key objective of this EIP,” Heydon added.

Elsewhere, Owen Murphy, senior project manager with the Breeding Waders EIP, said that having 170 participating landowners “this early in the life of the project is a remarkable endorsement of the collaborative approach”.

He added: “Farmers are essential partners in reversing the decline of our ground‑nesting birds, and their willingness to engage is creating real momentum on the ground.”

Murphy said he hopes the project will see more than 12,000 hectares of land receiving management actions for Waders.

Mike Connell is from Inchbofin, an island in Lough Ree in the River Shannon.

He joined the project in 2024 and said it has been an “absolute pleasure”.

“They assisted with scrub clearance from the shore on my land, offering to cover the cost of a contractor or pay me to do it myself, making it a win-win situation,” said Connell.

“Since I started with the Breeding Waders EIP, I can now recognise the birds that have returned to my land, including Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew and Redshank.

“I genuinely enjoy watching these birds off the shore. The collaboration has greatly benefited my land.”