The Wildlife Act 1976 is an Act of the Oireachtas protecting certain wildlife (including game) and flora in the Republic of Ireland.
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 (originally 1979, replaced 2009) and Habitats Directive (1992) into Irish law have strengthened habitat protection.
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.
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.