About Wexford’s Environment
Wexford is home to a rich and varied natural environment, shaped by its coastline, rivers, wetlands, and gently rolling farmland. The county supports a wide range of habitats and species, some of which are of international importance, such as coastal dunes, ancient woodlands, and overwintering bird populations. However, these natural assets are increasingly at risk from changing land use, climate pressures, and the decline of native biodiversity.
WEN response to Wexford County Council Local Biodiversity Action Plan pre-draft public consultation May 2025
Challenges for Wexford’s Biodiversity
County Wexford faces an unprecedented biodiversity crisis requiring urgent and coordinated action. This submission by Wexford Environmental Network outlines some of the challenges involved, along with goals, priorities and actions to help with halting biodiversity loss while building climate resilience.
Recent ecological surveys indicate alarming declines in key indicator species across Wexford and significant deterioration of water quality in over 60% of our river systems. Without immediate intervention, these trends will accelerate, undermining both natural systems and the local economy. We face ecosystem collapse in our most vulnerable habitats within 5-10 years, with cascading effects for our food security and wildlife.
We call for a transformative Biodiversity Action Plan that prioritises the protection of remaining habitats, large-scale restoration of degraded ecosystems, and similar biodiversity actions among all stakeholders. Only through decisive action and cooperation can we ensure Wexford’s natural heritage survives for future generations.
Several of WEN members actively worked on creating the submission.
You can read the document in full.
Click on image to view or download here.
This PDF file is a report done in July 2020 about Wexford’s Environment.
This information pack is a short synthesis of some of the data about environmental issues and how they impact on Wexford (or nationally, if there is no information specific to Wexford). It was compiled by WEN volunteers using data available from the EPA, NPWS, CSO SEAI or other public websites.
Other Links
Environmental Protection Agency
Go to the EPA website for information about air, radon, industry and water: www.epa.ie
Go to catchments.ie and beaches.ie for local water info.
National parks & wildlife service
Go to npws.ie for info about habitats, species and protected areas
Central statistics office
Go to cso.ie for environmental and social statistics