Breeding Waders EIP

Context

Since the 1970s, Ireland’s breeding wader populations have experienced severe declines, leaving many species at risk of functional extinction. Curlew and lapwing populations have each declined by approximately 97% and 80%, respectively, while snipe and redshank have declined by 87% and 65%. Although significant data gaps remain for the oystercatcher, ringed plover, red-necked phalarope and common sandpiper, all Irish breeding wader species are considered to have an unfavourable conservation status.

The primary driver of these declines has been land-use change. Agricultural intensification, including drainage, reseeding, silage production, increased fertiliser use and reduced farming diversity, has significantly altered traditional breeding habitats. Other contributing factors include commercial peat extraction, afforestation on peatlands and marginal soils, habitat fragmentation, arterial drainage, development and growing recreational pressures. These changes have reduced both the extent and quality of suitable habitats, resulting in breeding productivity levels that are insufficient to sustain populations. Habitat fragmentation has also increased predation risk for these ground-nesting birds while reducing access to food and shelter.

From the outset, the long-term goal of the EIP has been to halt the decline of Ireland’s breeding wader populations and create the foundation necessary to support population recovery into the future. To achieve this, the project brings together a diverse partnership, with various organisations providing expertise in conservation delivery, research, monitoring, policy development, predation management, community engagement and headstarting programmes, enabling a coordinated national response to Ireland’s breeding wader crisis.

Objectives

The project aims to combine the design, development and trial of an innovative suite of measures with known actions that benefit breeding waders. This combination will seek to halt the decline in the Irish breeding wader population and drive population recovery on a national level, improve awareness of breeding waders, increase capacity in the predation risk management sector, drive policy and increase awareness of the needs of breeding waders among policymakers, and implement positive breeding wader actions on non-commercially farmed land.

Activities

To date, the EIP has developed 266 farm plans for breeding waders, resulting in targeted conservation measures being implemented across more than 3 400 hectares of farmland. These plans provide the foundation for habitat management and farmer engagement, ensuring the delivery of practical conservation actions that support environmental sustainability, strengthen ecosystem health and enhance conditions for breeding wader populations.

Through strong collaborative partnerships, a series of habitat enhancement and protection measures was undertaken, including a 1.6-kilometre temporary nest protection fence erected with the local community to safeguard breeding birds from predation and disturbance. A 2-kilometre predator-proof fence was upgraded in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Additional habitat management actions included joint work on the management of Mongan Bog for breeding waders, the creation of wader scrapes on a demonstration farm and ongoing habitat rehabilitation works at Lough Ree (in the midlands of Ireland) with the NPWS. These actions support biodiversity, improve wetland function and increase habitat resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Through the curlew headstarting programme, headstarted chicks (i.e. chicks collected as eggs from the wild and reared in a controlled environment until they are strong enough to survive independently) have been successfully released over the last three years. In 2026, the project achieved an international first by sourcing curlew eggs from the UK to strengthen the Irish breeding population. In 2025, the project delivered Ireland's first dunlin headstarting programme – only the second of its kind globally. These initiatives contribute directly to species recovery and the restoration of Ireland's natural heritage, supporting wider green recovery objectives.

Innovation has played a central role throughout the project. The first GPS tagging of curlew fledglings in Ireland was successfully completed. Training in GPS tagging techniques was also delivered to NPWS ornithologists, helping to build national capacity. Colour-ringing schemes for headstarted dunlin and curlew were secured through the International Wader Study Group, enabling individual identification and lifetime tracking.

A structured framework for nest protection officer (NPO) training was developed and accredited, while Ireland's first female NPOs were appointed in February 2025. Ethical Larsen traps and nest cages for high-risk nests were designed for use by the project.

All project activities and achievements are documented and disseminated through dedicated social media channels, ensuring regular engagement with farmers, stakeholders and the wider public. The project has also received significant national media coverage across Ireland, helping to raise awareness of breeding wader conservation, sustainable land management, biodiversity protection, climate adaptation and environmental sustainability.

Generational renewal

The Breeding Waders EIP actively engages young people through education, outreach and career development initiatives that promote opportunities in agriculture, conservation and environmental management. It delivers education and outreach programmes in primary and secondary schools, as well as community groups across Ireland, and provides presentations, webinars and guest lectures at universities, highlighting careers in ecology, conservation and agriculture. Project managers have also attended university and college careers fairs during the 2026/2027 academic year to encourage young people to enter the agri-environment sector.

The EIP has also developed the Wader Ambassador Schools Programme, which is being rolled out to schools nationwide to inspire future environmental leaders.

Main results

Conservation measures have been implemented across over 3 400 hectares, with more onboarding to take place during the life of the project. Habitat enhancement works are taking place across various areas in Ireland, while GPS trackers have been implemented, enabling improved monitoring and conservation management.

The project has created and supported a number of specialist conservation roles, including 69 seasonal NPOs and 22 project staff. There has also been considerable investment in conservation technologies, including GPS tracking equipment and thermal drone technology. Capacity within the conservation sector has been enhanced through accredited training and skills development programmes.

The project has widely disseminated its activities through social media, public events (132 events in 2025 and 2026 to date) and national media coverage (121 publications across television, radio and online). Talks and events have brought communities together, with the shared goals of raising awareness and putting conservation actions in place for breeding waders.

Work has also been done with national schools to roll out the Wader Ambassador Schools Programme, which is designed to help pupils understand Ireland’s breeding waders, the pressures they face and how disturbance can affect their ability to nest successfully. Through a mix of research, creative activities and presentations, students have built awareness, knowledge and a sense of stewardship for local biodiversity.

Key lessons

Collaborative conservation is at the heart of the Breeding Waders EIP. As an EIP-AGRI project, its success depends on building strong partnerships between farmers, researchers, government agencies, conservation organisations and local communities to develop and deliver innovative solutions for breeding wader conservation.

#CollaborativeConservation was introduced and promoted as the mantra of the Breeding Waders EIP, with this hashtag now being used by other Irish conservation projects.

The project has demonstrated good networking by bringing together a wide range of stakeholders with complementary expertise, enabling effective knowledge transfer, knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving. This collaborative approach has increased the efficiency of project delivery, promoted innovation and ensured that conservation actions are informed by the best available scientific, practical and local knowledge. The project also actively supports and shares learning with other conservation initiatives, helping to maximise benefits beyond the project area and contributing to wider biodiversity and environmental objectives.