The Irish Wildlife Trust is urging Senators to support proposed amendments to the Heritage Bill, which comes before the Seanad this Wednesday. These important amendments will see the removal of or changes to sections of the Bill, which proposes needless changes to the dates during which hedge-cutting and burning of upland vegetation can take place.
IWT Campaign Officer, Pádraic Fogarty, says “it is unclear why changes to hedge-cutting and burning dates are needed, while it is very clear that if the changes go ahead we will see major impacts to our wildlife. Already we have seen massive declines in the populations of farmland birds and pollinating insects – if anything we need laws that will reverse these declines, not make them worse. Minister Heather Humphreys is not taking her responsibility to protect our natural heritage seriously.”
The IWT is urging members of the public to email Senators to request their support for the amendments to the Bill proposed by Green Party, Independent and Labour Senators. As of today (Monday) 25,000 people have signed a petition resisting more ‘slash and burn’ (see https://my.uplift.ie/petitions
