Another Life Michael VineyA mooch along the shore between showers conjured fresh otter tracks in the sand, and a sudden, stately passage of dolphins out beyond the third wave. As carolling larks spiralled up from the dunes, it felt quite the wrong sort of day to be brooding on the latest twists in conservation politics.
When Dúchas came to rest in the Department of the Environment last year, it seemed that the conservation of nature, along with that of the built environment, had at last found its logical home. There seemed no reason to fear that Dúchas itself, with its eye-catching logo and public image, its conservation rangers in smart little countryside vans, might not survive the change.
But that was to reckon without successive conflicts arising from its role in decisions on planning and land-use. The protest that followed its sudden break-up by the Cabinet last month focused almost entirely on the handing back to the OPW of the management of the built heritage, along with archaeology, when control of policy in this area remained with Martin Cullen, the environment and planning Minister.
More urgently in the Cabinet's mind, I am sure, was the way in which Dúchas had become hostage to the reckless populism of the IFA leadership. In a guerrilla war over the future of farming policy, the role of Dúchas in carrying through the EU-driven Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas made it a handy stick with which to beat the Government.
In claims that Dúchas was "out of political control", the IFA seized on such measures as those proposed for protection of the scarce hen harrier in the uplands of north Co Kerry and west Co Limerick (discussed here on February 22nd). IFA meetings ended in blatant threats to shoot the harriers and send their corpses to Dúchas. The break-up of the service, and extinction of its name, was followed by IFA agreement to sign up to a package in the National Agreement - one which includes higher environmental payments.
The new situation changes little in the day-to-day concerns of conservation staff on the ground. "I thought you'd f***ing gone away!" was one greeting to a woman ranger at a farm gate. But the routine operation of nature conservation continues much as before, tucked away within the structures of what is now the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
One of its seven divisions is Environment Infrastructure and Services, largely concerned with water and sewerage. But it also holds a section called Biodiversity Protection and Science, headed by Dr Alan Craig. As director, in Dúchas, of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, he has presided over the huge task of implementing the EU's Habitats Directive. This work goes on, along with the research to back it up, but whether the name of National Parks and Wildlife will replace that of Dúchas on the little blue vans seems undecided.
Dúchas was a brave and enthusiastic notion to emerge from the Civil Service. It promoted a unified idea of "heritage" in the landscape - built and natural environments in an integrated culture of conservation. It offered a public focus for education, a brand name and, as time went on, a suggestion of independent ethics and watchdog scrutiny.
Much of this, unfortunately, was an illusion. Dúchas was always just a grouping of civil servants, as subject to ministerial bidding as any other.
The first casualty has been the divorce between nature and the built heritage - they are not even assigned to the same division of Cullen's department. The second big loss is a public face for conservation planning (other, that is, than the Minister's). For all the semi-public rows between Dúchas and the conservation NGOs, there was, at least, a productive dynamic at work between them. And now, when it comes to development controversies and planning appeals, shall we ever know the expert opinions and advice of the section for Biodiversity Protection and Science? Finally, we are promised that the advisory role of the Heritage Council is to be "redefined". The council has been wonderfully imaginative in its aid to conservation projects, and has made vigorous use of its independence - even, at times, crossing swords with Dúchas on the side of the NGOs. How Cullen "redefines" the role of the council will be watched with deep concern.
Michael Viney welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. E-mail: viney@anu.ie (include postal address)