Community Conversations Report: How Do Irish People Really Feel About Nature Restoration?
Community Conversation event, Iveragh, 2025.
The EU Nature Restoration Law requires all Member States to restore at least 20% of land and sea by 2030 - and to set out how they’ll do it through a national plan.
In Ireland, an Independent Advisory Committee was established to guide this process. At the heart of their work is a simple but vital principle: listening to people to make sure that their views are appropriately reflected in the recommendations.
As independent facilitators, Hometree partnered with ACT to create space for communities to speak openly about the nature they value, the changes they’ve witnessed, and their hopes for the future. It was an act of deep listening.
Our Community Conversations initiatives brought together over 500 people across 13 locations in September and October 2025 through walks, workshops and discussions to help shape Ireland’s first National Nature Restoration Plan.
The findings, captured in the Community Conversations Synthesis Report, reveal both a deep connection to the natural world and a shared urgency to address the decline of Ireland’s ecosystems. What emerges is a clear call for a restoration plan that is ambitious, fair, and grounded in local knowledge.
“Because Hometree works so closely with communities, we understand that restoration isn’t just about ecology - it’s about people, place and livelihoods. What stood out most was how deeply people care - not just about protecting nature, but about being part of restoring it. There’s a real appetite for action, rooted in care and community spirit.”
- Ray Ó Foghlú, Development Lead at Hometree
Key themes from the report include:
Clean Water: Water quality emerged as the primary concern, with communities calling for urgent action to restore Ireland's rivers, lakes and coasts.
Support for Land Managers: Participants highlighted the vital role of farmers as custodians of the land and called for long-term, stable supports to reward ecological results.
Nature as a Right: There is a strong demand for inclusive access to nature, ensuring that green spaces are safe and reachable for everyone, regardless of ability.
Local Leadership: The report identifies a need for "bottom-up" governance, where local communities are empowered and resourced to lead restoration efforts.
The synthesis report has informed the final recommendations to the Government as Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan is developed.
