| Current status | 2019 |  |
| Short term status |  | |
| Long term status | |
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The EU Directive on the Conservation of Habitats, Flora and Fauna (92/43/EEC), commonly known as “the Habitats Directive”, came into force in 1994 and was transposed into Irish law in 1997 alongside the Birds Directive. Together they have become the most important pieces of legislation governing the conservation of biodiversity in Europe. The main aim of the Habitats Directive is to achieve and maintain favourable conservation status for habitats and species which are considered at risk. This is to be achieved by designating key sites as Special Areas of Conservation, and also by introducing protective measures for species considered at risk. The protection of these habitats and species occurring in Ireland presents many of the most important priorities for nature conservation in this country.
Under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive, each member state is obliged to report to the European Commission on the status of listed habitats and species every six years. In 2007, 2013 and 2019 Ireland submitted assessments of conservation status for all 69 species covered under Article 17 that occur in Ireland. However, the assessment methodology relating to the impact of pollution has changed markedly over the three reporting periods, so only data from the most recent assessment in 2019 is presented. Of the 69 habitats listed in the Habitats Directive, 27 (or 39%) were reported to be impacted by at least one type of medium or high intensity pollution, and 9 were reported to be impacted by 2 or more types of high or medium intensity pollution in 2019. The main source of pollution originated from agriculture with the highest number of species being affected by the application of natural and synthetic fertilisers and other agricultural activities generating diffuse pollution to surface or ground waters.
More information on the Article 17 species and habitat assessments can be found here:
https://www.npws.ie/publications/article-17-reports
More information on Article 17 reporting can be found here:
Number of Habitats Directive species' status affected by pollution
This indicator focuses on the number of species listed under the EU Habitats Directive for which pollution is a major threat to their status.