Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership

What Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership does

Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (Breeding Waders EIP) is a €25 million Irish conservation initiative launched in 2024 to halt and reverse the decline of ground-nesting breeding wader populations, including Curlew, Dunlin, Lapwing, Redshank, Golden Plover, and Snipe. The project is co-funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the EU through the EIP-Agri framework, operating under the umbrella of Irish Rural Link from its headquarters in Moate, Co. Westmeath. Its core programmes include headstarting (collecting eggs from wild nests, incubating and rearing chicks at Fota Wildlife Park and Dublin Zoo, then releasing fledglings), predator management through the Midlands Mink Eradication Programme, and capital actions on farmland including predator exclusion fencing, wader scrapes, scrub clearance, rush management, and No Fence virtual collar systems.

The project serves Irish farmers and landowners within designated Wader Action Zones, with a target of recruiting and training up to 650 participants across nationwide zones. Delivery relies on embedded regional Project Officers across Donegal, the West, Lough Ree/Shannon Callows, and Munster, supported by 30 seasonal Nest Protection Officers. Technology stack includes GPS tracking of released birds, thermal imagery drone nest detection under NPWS licence, passive acoustic monitoring, GIS mapping, and predator exclusion fencing, with Ireland's only mink detection dog (Lorg) supporting invasive predator management. The first cross-border importation of Curlew eggs from Yorkshire Dales (UK) in July 2026 marked a milestone in international conservation collaboration.

The business model is grant-funded nonprofit expenditure rather than commercial revenue, with no fees charged to participating farmers. The project instead provides payments, training, and capital works to farmers implementing conservation measures on their land. Revenue is concentrated in government co-funding channels, with the NPWS contributing over €17.5 million over the project lifetime. Marketing and farmer recruitment occur through a multi-channel community-led approach including social media, farmer information evenings, events, webinars, press coverage, and educational programmes in schools and third-level institutions.

Name

Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership

Legal name

Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership

Website

https://breedingwaders.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Breeding Waders EIP is a €25 million Irish nonprofit conservation initiative, co-funded by the government and EU, that partners with farmers and landowners to halt the decline of breeding wader populations through headstarting, predator management, and habitat restoration across Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Poultry Hatcheries (112340)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Health & Conservation Disease Management (HLAMAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inspection, Monitoring & Maintenance Programs (Audits, Compliance, Recertification) (HSAMAGAN), Structural Modifications & Habitat Management (Food/Water Source Control, Site Changes) (HSAMAGAL)

Keywords

• Breeding wader conservation
• Habitat management services
• Predator exclusion fencing
• Headstarting programmes
• Agri-environmental schemes

Headquarters

HQ city

Moate

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Co-Funding: This EIP-Agri project is co-funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is a €25 million nationwide project. NPWS will invest over €17.5 million over the project lifetime. The project is also co-funded by the EU.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

The Breeding Waders EIP delivers landscape-scale conservation of ground-nesting wader birds in Ireland through farmer engagement, habitat management (Capital Actions), species recovery (headstarting Curlew and Dunlin), and predator control (Midlands Mink Eradication Programme). The project combines field conservation works, technology-driven monitoring (GPS tracking, thermal drone nest detection), nest protection, and educational outreach to halt the decline of breeding wader populations.

Product overview

The Breeding Waders EIP is a €25 million nationwide conservation project co-funded by NPWS and DAFM, operating as a unified conservation initiative rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The project delivers an integrated suite of conservation programmes including headstarting (Curlew and Dunlin), predator management (Midlands Mink Eradication Programme), and habitat restoration (capital actions including predator exclusion fencing, wader scrapes, scrub clearance, rush management, and virtual fencing). These programmes are supported by technology services (thermal drone nest detection, GPS bird tracking), nest protection services, and educational outreach. The project aims to halt the decline and support recovery of Ireland's breeding wader populations through landscape management, policy development, and farmer engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curlew Headstarting Programme A conservation technique that involves collecting Curlew eggs from wild nests, transporting them to controlled facilities (Fota Wildlife Park) for incubation and rearing, then releasing fledglings back into the wild at around 12 days old with significantly improved survival rates to boost the critically declining Irish Curlew population (down 98% since the 1980s).
• Dunlin Headstarting Programme Ireland's first-ever Dunlin headstarting programme, collecting eggs from wild nests and rearing them at Fota Wildlife Park to address the over 90% decline in Irish breeding Dunlin populations (with just under 30 pairs now breeding in Ireland). Knowledge transferred from Nordens Ark and BirdLife International.
• Midlands Mink Eradication Programme A pilot initiative to protect ground nesting birds from invasive American Mink predators, run as a collaboration between Breeding Waders EIP and the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC), supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The programme coordinates mink detection (using Ireland's only mink-detection dog Lorg) and trapping across the Midlands region.
• Predator Exclusion Fencing Electric, predator-proof fencing designed to keep mammals (including American Mink and foxes) from entering important breeding areas, protecting nests from disturbance, trampling, or predation. Includes temporary fences (e.g., 1.6km at Achill's The Valley with LIFE on Machair) and permanent upgrades (e.g., 2km at Sheskinmore with NPWS Regional Management).
• Wader Scrapes Shallow depressions created in damp, lowland grassland that hold water longer than surrounding ground, maintaining muddy edges rich in invertebrate life that wading birds depend on for feeding during the breeding season.
• Scrub Clearance Removal of encroaching scrub to restore the open conditions that waders require for nesting, as dense vegetation offers perches for aerial predators and restricts movement of adult birds and chicks.
• Rush Management Management of rush vegetation through mulching or topping to restore varied plant structure suitable for the breeding season, improving conditions for chick survival and nesting habitat quality.
• No Fence Virtual Collar System GPS-based virtual fencing using 'No Fence' collars and app-based geo-boundaries to guide livestock and maintain balanced grazing without physical barriers, supporting conservation-friendly land management on participating farms.
• Nest Protection Services Deployment of trained Seasonal Nest Protection Officers (up to 30 seasonal staff) to implement nest protection practices in designated breeding wader areas, protecting nests from disturbance, trampling, and predation during the breeding season.
• Educational Programme School and third-level initiatives including educational walks, presentations, and an educational toolbox for teachers to raise awareness of breeding waders and conservation efforts, including the Wader Ambassador Programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• Target species population recovery: Lapwing 800 to 900 breeding pairs in 5 years; Redshank 180 to 220; Curlew 120 to 125; Dunlin 30 to 35; Golden Plover 150 to 165; Snipe 3,500 to 5% increase by year 5
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dublin Zoo (Centre for Species Survival)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Home to the Centre for Species Survival (established 2023), Dublin Zoo provides early-stage rearing for imported UK Curlew eggs, caring for chicks until they reach fledgling stage before transfer to release facilities.
• Yorkshire Dales Moorland GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026UK partner providing Curlew eggs from healthy breeding populations in Yorkshire Dales. This cross-border collaboration represents the first-ever importation of Curlew eggs to Ireland for conservation purposes, with knowledge sharing on breeding wader management.
• National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2025Collaboration on the Midlands Mink Eradication Programme, a pilot initiative to protect ground nesting birds from invasive American Mink. Supported by NPWS.
• LIFE on Machair ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborated on 1.6km predator exclusion fence installation at Achill's The Valley. The nesting site for Dunlin headstarting is managed by LIFE on Machair.
• Corncrake LIFE ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for knowledge sharing at Donegal Stakeholders Meeting, working together for breeding waders across Donegal.
• Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025LIFE Integrated Project partner collaborating on breeding wader conservation in Donegal.
• BirdWatch IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Bird conservation NGO participating in stakeholder meetings and knowledge sharing for breeding wader protection.
• BirdLife InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International conservation organisation collaborating on Dunlin headstarting knowledge sharing through Nordens Ark partnership.
• TeagascminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Government agricultural advisory body that hosted the Extensive Grassland Biodiversity Event, highlighting role of grasslands in supporting biodiversity and ground-nesting birds.
• Various County CouncilsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Longford County Council (Biodiversity Action Plan launch), Donegal County Council Biodiversity Officer, and others collaborating on local conservation initiatives and stakeholder engagement.
• ACRES (Area Control Scheme)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme teams participating in stakeholder meetings for breeding wader conservation coordination.
• National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Government agency co-funding the €25 million project and providing regulatory oversight. NPWS Regional Management collaborates on predator exclusion fencing projects (e.g., Sheskinmore), and their staff assist with nest detection licensing and stakeholder engagement.
• Irish Rural LinkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024National network of organisations campaigning for sustainable rural development. IRL hosts the Breeding Waders EIP offices at Moate Business Park and represents over 600 community groups with combined membership of 25,000.
• Fota Wildlife ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Expert aviculturalists providing incubation and headstarting facilities for Curlew and Dunlin eggs. Fota Wildlife Park has purpose-built, biosecure facilities and experienced animal care teams for rearing vulnerable chicks to fledging stage.
• Hen Harrier ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborates on headstarting activities, with drone pilot teams assisting Breeding Waders EIP in locating Curlew eggs in the wild using thermal imagery technology under NPWS licence.
• Nordens ArkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Swedish conservation organisation that pioneered Dunlin headstarting since 2023. Breeding Waders EIP held meetings with Nordens Ark and BirdLife International to learn from their experience before launching Ireland's first Dunlin headstarting programme.
• The Heritage CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Government body supporting biodiversity events including the Extensive Grassland Biodiversity Event.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Fota Wildlife Park: Irish wildlife park providing biosecure incubation and headstarting facilities for Curlew and Dunlin eggs. Operationally central to Breeding Waders EIP, with directly comparable captive rearing capability for endangered species.
• Dublin Zoo (Centre for Species Survival): Houses the Centre for Species Survival (est. 2023) and provides early-stage rearing for imported UK Curlew eggs. Directly comparable in species reintroduction and ex-situ conservation methodology.
• Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group: UK moorland conservation group supplying Curlew eggs from healthy breeding populations in Yorkshire Dales. Same species focus, complementary geography, and active cross-border partner.

Direct peers

• Nordens Ark: Swedish conservation organisation that pioneered Dunlin headstarting since 2023 and is a direct knowledge-transfer partner for Breeding Waders EIP's new Dunlin programme.
• Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP: LIFE Integrated Project for blanket bog and breeding wader conservation in Ireland. Same target species (Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank), same Irish geography, same EU LIFE/EIP funding architecture, and is an active partner.
• Corncrake LIFE Project: LIFE-funded conservation project for the closely related ground-nesting Corncrake in Ireland. Highly comparable methodology (farmer engagement, habitat management, passive acoustic monitoring) and is an active partner of Breeding Waders EIP.
• BirdWatch Ireland: Ireland's leading bird conservation NGO, listed as a project partner. Directly comparable mission (Irish breeding bird conservation, farmland bird monitoring, policy advocacy) and overlapping activities in corncrake and wader monitoring.
• Hen Harrier Programme: Irish EIP-Agri project for another ground-nesting raptor. Directly comparable structure (EIP-Agri, NPWS co-funding, farmer payments, drone nest detection, headstarting collaboration with Breeding Waders EIP).

Broad incumbents

• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT): Major UK wetland and waterbird conservation organisation with captive breeding, headstarting, and species reintroduction expertise. Comparable on headstarting techniques and wetland habitat management relevant to waders.
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds): Largest bird conservation charity in Europe with extensive wader and ground-nesting bird recovery programmes. Highly comparable mission (wild bird conservation, farmer engagement, habitat restoration) and Yorkshire Dales wader work directly overlaps with Breeding Waders EIP's Curlew egg source.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BreedingWaders
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BreedingWadersEIP
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/breeding-waders-eip-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/breedingwaders
• TikToktiktok.com/@breeding.waders.ei

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership