Wildlife Act 1976

The Act included a schedule of protected species,[1] but it was relatively weak on habitat protection, particularly in the case of habitats on privately owned land.[2] Subsequent measures to transpose the European Union's Birds Directive and Habitats Directive into Irish law have strengthened habitat protection.

The Wildlife Act of 1976 was followed by:

• the "Wildlife Advisory Council Order" on 13 March 1978. Under the terms of the 1976 act, a Wildlife Advisory Council was established – known officially in the Irish language as "An Chomhairle Fhiadhulra". The functions of this body, which was abolished in 1987, included the establishment and maintenance of reserves and refuges for wildlife, the ongoing protection of breeding grounds, herd management, migration, etc. It would also make certain provisions relating to land, inland waters and the territorial waters of the state.
• the "Wildlife Act, 1976 (Protection of Wild Animals) Regulations" on 10 September 1980,
• the "Wildlife Act, 1976 (Acquisition of Land) Regulations" on 6 February 1978, and others.

Since 1976 the Act has since been amended several times, first by the "European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985", which sought to manage, conserve, and protect birds. The second amendment was the "European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986", which added the control of species of wild bird which may cause damage or injury to specified interests. The most recent was the "Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 (Act No. 38 of 2000)", which provided statutory protection for Natural Heritage Areas as well as legislation relating to the management and conservation of forests, including the hunting and capture of birds in protected forests.

• Legislation affecting natural resource management in Ireland