Lack of information about Irish habitats and species has prevented their designation as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), according to leading Irish environmental groups.
A report by An Taisce, Birdwatch Ireland, Coastwatch Ireland, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council and the Irish Wildlife Trust urges the Government to fund research to ensure SAC designation is possible, as it is a key method of environmental protection.
The groups have already submitted their own list of proposed SACs to the European Commission.
Much of the information gathered on habitats and species was inaccessible, the report said. "Much of this information was gathered as a result of either internal survey reports organised by bodies such as Duchas, Coillte and the Environmental Protection Agency. The remainder is held as a result of university-led investigations or as studies conducted by smaller interest groups."
Specific scientific information was lacking about sites not designated as SACs, according to the report, and this "has resulted in major problems for the proposal of a number of habitats and species". Funding "would significantly help to ensure that sufficient protection is conferred on Ireland's wildlife and habitats", it added.
The report identifies fens, grasslands, limestone pavements, woodland, sand dunes and lagoons as having no national surveys or incomplete surveys.
"The Government is using the lack of information as a justification for not putting forward more sites," said Ms Shirley Clerkin of An Taisce. There should be a national data centre for information on habitats and species, she said. This would allow botanists, wildlife experts and amateur naturalists to submit information which could be used in determining whether a site should be protected.
Ms Clerkin said there was a problem in obtaining information about sites because experts and amateurs involved in studies felt submitting information on a site for designation could result in the habitat being destroyed to prevent it being given SAC status.
Last year the five groups submitted a list of 621 sites for designation to the European Commission because they said the Government's list of over 360 sites was incomplete.
Of the 621 sites the groups identified, 143 have never been surveyed, Ms Clerkin said. "If we don't know about these sites, we should be taking a precautionary approach."