Nature and Biodiversity in Dublin City

From the internationally recognised North Bull Island and the UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere to urban woodlands, wetlands, rivers and species-rich hedgerows, biodiversity is everywhere.

Key habitats and ecological features in the city include:

• Coastal and estuarine zones, such as North Bull Island and Sandymount Strand, which support migratory birds.
• Freshwater systems, including the Liffey, the Tolka, the Dodder, canals and ponds, which provide corridors for fish, amphibians and invertebrates.
• Urban green spaces like parks, graveyards and community gardens, which support pollinators, birds and small mammals.
• Linear features such as hedgerows, railway embankments and roadside verges, which act as ecological corridors.
• Built structures including walls, roofs and street trees offer habitats for nesting birds, flora, lichens and moss.

Dublin City Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan 2021–2025 sets out targeted measures to protect and enhance urban habitats across the city. Key actions include:

• Restoring native woodlands in parks such as St. Anne’s Park and Bushy Park.
• Controlling invasive species.
• Enhancing biodiversity in cemeteries and historic landscapes through sensitive habitat management.
• Implementing pollinator-friendly practices in public planting schemes, where appropriate, in line with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
• Engaging communities through citizen science, education programmes and biodiversity events.

You can experience Dublin’s biodiversity by exploring its parks, tree trails and the UNESCO biosphere reserve. Alternatively, you can take part in local initiatives, such as the North Bull Island Volunteer Programme.