Australia burns but we suffer, too

Sir — Added to the human tragedy of the Australian bush fires has been the devastating loss of so many animals and birds. Aside from the suffering borne by these creatures, the inferno has pushed some endangered species even closer to extinction.

This ecological catastrophe has concentrated the minds of conservationists globally on the need to preserve precious wildlife and their habitats in the face of growing and varied threats to their survival.

We have no cause to be comreferred placent here in Ireland when it comes to caring for vulnerable eco-systems. While this is an issue that should concern every citizen, politicians have been unhelpful in the bid to safeguard our biodiversity.

Last year, a vociferous band of rural TDs lobbied for the “right” of landowners to burn vegetation in March, a development that would have endangered breeding birds and protected habitats nationwide.

Then there was the case where a council allowed the destruction of a wetlands area that was home to numerous species of flora and fauna, including the endangered European eel.

Ireland faces a biodiversity crisis. An estimated one-third of all species here, including plants, birds, butterflies, freshwater fish, dragonflies and sharks are facing possible extinction. Only onethird of Ireland’s hedgerows are now capable of catering for birds and other wildlife.

Many Irish rivers and lakes are polluted, and the conservation status of 90pc of our highest-value habitats protected under the EU’s Habitats Directive is deemed to be poor or inadequate.

In the late 1980s, there were 5,000 breeding pairs of curlews here. Now there are about 130 pairs. Successive governments ignored the curlew’s sad plight.

Decision-making on the future of Ireland’s biodiversity should be taken out of the hands of politicians and left to an independent body of professionals completely free of the political sphere.

Otherwise, our wonderful wildlife heritage will remain a hostage to electoral self-interest and cute-hoorism.

John Fitzgerald,

Callan, Co Kilkenny