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For information on parks, gardens, monuments and inland waterways see www.heritageireland.ie.

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National Nature Reserves

There are 66 state-owned and 10 privately owned National Nature Reserves (NNRs) in the Republic, represented by Dúchas (the government department in charge of parks, monuments and gardens). In Northern Ireland there are over 40 NNRs, which are leased or owned by the Department of the Environment. These reserves are defined as areas of importance for their special flora, fauna or geology, and include the Giant’s Causeway and Glenariff in Antrim, and North Strangford Lough in County Down. More information is available from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency ( 0845 302 0008; www.ni-environment.gov.uk).

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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Ireland does not rate among the world’s biggest offenders when it comes to polluting the environment, but the country’s recent economic growth has led to an increase in industry and consumerism, which in turn generate more pollution and waste. While the population density is among Europe’s lowest, the population is rising. The last 10 years have seen the untrammelled expansion of suburban developments around all of Ireland’s major towns and cities; the biggest by far is, inevitably, around Dublin, especially in the broadening commuter belt of Counties Meath and Kildare. The collapse of the construction bubble in 2008 has put an end to much of this development, but the rows of semi-detached houses still remain. As more people drive cars and fly in planes, Ireland grows more dependent on nonrenewable sources of energy. The amount of waste has risen substantially since the early 1990s.

Needless to say, concern for the environment is growing and the government has taken some measures to offset the damage that thriving economies can cause. In 2007 the Irish Energy Centre was renamed Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI; www.sei.ie) and charged with promoting and assisting the development of sustainable energy. On a more practical level, a number of recycling programs have been very successful, especially the ‘plastax’ – a €0.22 levy on all plastic bags used within the retail sector, which has seen their use reduced by a whopping 90%.

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CLIMATE CHANGE & OTHER LOOMING CONCERNS

It remains to be seen what’s in store for Ireland as the earth’s oceans and atmosphere warm up, but scientists have offered a long list of possible scenarios. The gentlest of forecasts has the weather of Northern Ireland resembling the current conditions in County Cork, while Cork turns into Ireland’s version of the Côte d’Azure.

By mid-century, winter temperatures are expected to rise by 1°C (1.8°F) on average, while rainfall is predicted to increase, especially in the already wet northwest. Flooding may pose more of a problem in the Shannon River Basin. Summer temperatures may rise by as much as 2.5°C (4.5°F) on average, while rainfall is likely to drop significantly during these months. Seasonal drought may become a problem, wildfires may be a growing concern, and due to new irrigation costs, the potato may cease to be a viable cash crop in much of Ireland.

The rise in sea level will have a direct effect on Ireland’s coasts. Gently sloped beaches along the west coast will disappear as higher waves erode sand and tides extend further inland. Already, climatologists are advising against development within 100m of flat coastlines. Many cities, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, will be at increased risk of inundation in the event of storm surges unless seawalls are built.

The impact on biodiversity is a huge question mark, since it is difficult to estimate how well various plant and animal species will adapt to climate change and related side effects. Heath and peatlands, of which Ireland has a large proportion, are considered sensitive to extended periods of dryness. Ireland is currently at the southern extent of the range of salmon, which may stay further north (and hence be difficult to farm) if the island’s streams