Biodiversity conservation in action at Gas Networks Ireland

Irish Examiner

17-05-2025

Gas Networks Ireland operates and maintains Ireland's €3bn, 14,758km national gas network, one of the safest and most modern renewables-ready networks.
By replacing natural gas with renewable gases like biomethane and green hydrogen, and supporting renewable electricity, Gas Networks Ireland is supporting the Irish Government's ambitious climate and energy targets to successfully transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.
Commitment to Biodiversity and Sustainability
We at Gas Networks Ireland are committed to promoting sustainability across our business and in the communities where we operate. Since 2012, we have held the Business Working Responsibly Mark which is an independently audited standard for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability in Ireland.
In 2024, we were delighted to be appointed as a 2024/2025 champion of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. As an Irish SDG champion, Gas Networks Ireland is committed to raising awareness about the importance of the SDGs.
We have supported all 17 goals since they were first adopted, but we have aligned our business strategy to the six specific SDGs most relevant to our activities. As an SDG champion, we will act as an advocate and role model for the application of the SDGs in our business activities. Through our actions, we will demonstrate that everyone in society can make a contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Gas Networks Ireland has supported all 17 Sustainable Development Goals since they were first adopted. GNI has also aligned its business strategy to the six specific SDGs most relevant to the company's activities.
Actions for Biodiversity
In 2019, at Ireland's first National Biodiversity Conference, Gas Networks Ireland signed the government's biodiversity 'Seeds for Nature' Charter, committing to managing all gas infrastructure and sites (in Ireland and Scotland) according to Biodiversity Best Practice and aiming for a Net Gain impact by 2025.
We are also members of Business for Biodiversity Ireland and partners of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, supporting Ireland's National Biodiversity Action Plan.
To demonstrate our progress towards meeting our 2025 commitments, we are currently undergoing an independent audit of our biodiversity actions since making our commitments back in 2019.
Our Biodiversity Action Plan outlines actions to achieve our biodiversity commitments.
Some of the actions taken to date include developing and implementing a suite of innovative biodiversity tools to support our people and business partners.
We have developed bespoke Landscaping for Biodiversity Guidelines for our gas sites ensuring our asset landscaping is managed from the design of our assets, to construction to maintenance.
While tree felling is avoided where possible, it is sometimes necessary for safety or operational reasons. We implemented a Tree Felling and Hedge Cutting Permit to support the responsible management of the tree felling and hedge cutting process.
To help determine the number of trees required to offset the tree removal, we developed a Carbon Tree Calculator Tool to estimate the carbon sequestration potential over 20 to 60 years. The tool ensures only native Irish trees are considered when replanting.
In 2024, we developed the Compensatory Habitat Design Tool, which measures and calculates the impact of construction projects on biodiversity. By determining the impact of the project on biodiversity, we can ensure that any loss of biodiversity is mitigated against, leading to no net loss or net gain of biodiversity in a measurable and scientific manner.
Conserving Biodiversity Through Site Management
Gas Networks Ireland has conducted baseline biodiversity surveys of 54 of our gas sites across Ireland and Scotland, creating biodiversity plans for these locations.
Gas Networks Ireland has developed bespoke 'Landscaping for Biodiversity Guidelines' for its gas sites, ensuring all asset landscaping is managed to optimise the protection of biodiversity.
We have carried out ecological rehabilitation projects on several of these sites which include removing non-native species and planting native vegetation, creating ponds, log piles, bee banks, and tree planting. In 2024, our efforts at the Grange gas site in East Cork were recognized by the Environmental Forum. That year, we planted 5,437 trees on our assets and in communities.
We have also reduced grass cutting on our sites to enhance habitats for pollinators, resulting in the appearance of rare bee orchids at our National Services Centre in Dublin and the red-listed round-leaved crane's bill at our Cork headquarters. We also promote 'No mow May' annually with staff and business partners.
Promoting Biodiversity Awareness
Gas Networks Ireland supports conservation groups such as Swift Conservation Ireland, and hosts biodiversity-related events annually for staff and their families and in the community, to support the areas we operate in and to raise awareness of how we can all help in the biodiversity crisis.
For example, we have held Bat Walk events for staff and their families to learn about our native bat species and use specialist tools to see and hear the bats on our gas sites.
Invasive Species Removal
We take a proactive approach to identifying, controlling and removing high-risk invasive species across our network of assets. Our teams receive training on how to spot and report invasive species, and we work with specialists to ensure safe and effective treatment methods.
As the control of invasive species is an ongoing effort, for our part we ensure that there is monitoring, follow-up treatment, and ongoing awareness for any removal efforts.
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