IWDG was founded in 1990 to establish an All Ireland  sighting and stranding scheme and to campaign for the declaration of Irish territorial waters as a whale and dolphin sanctuary.

On the 7th of June 1991, the Irish Government declared Ireland an Irish Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary which was a remarkable first achievement of the newly formed group. The IWDG strive to make this an effective sanctuary.

What began as a tree planting charity is a project which connects people with nature, and facilitates a variety of projects that are fundamental to addressing both Ireland’s declining biodiversity and the unfolding climate challenge.

Hometree is a nature restoration charity, based in the west of Ireland. We work to establish and restore resilient habitats, focusing on native temperate rainforests.

Leave No Trace is Ireland’s only Outdoor Ethics Education Programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation.

Techniques designed to minimise the environmental and social impacts in these areas are incorporated in and promoted by the national Leave No Trace education programme.