An Area for Action is a term used in Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan to describe the focussed work that helps protect and improve water quality. It promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing across communities and agencies.

For the third cycle (2022-2027), Areas for Action are grouped into three categories:

• Areas for Restoration – target ‘At Risk’, and sometimes ‘Review’ water bodies
• Areas for Protection – places where good water quality needs to be maintained
• Catchment Projects – large-scale projects that deliver water-quality benefits

This broader approach builds on the Priority Areas for Action used in the second cycle (2018-2021), which focussed on the most at-risk waters. The third cycle expands this to give “a place in the plan for everyone” by including restoration, protection, and catchment scale initiatives.

For further information see https://www.catchments.ie/taking-action/