Opportunity to join An Taisce's new One Health Committee

About An Taisce

Since 1948, An Taisce has served as Ireland's leading independent environmental organisation, protecting our natural and built heritage. We maintain affiliations with the International National Trusts Organisation, the European Environmental Bureau, and the Foundation for Environmental Education.

Help Shape Ireland's Approach to One Health

An Taisce, The National Trust for Ireland, is seeking expert volunteers to join our One Health Committee. This is an opportunity to contribute your professional knowledge to an initiative that addresses the critical interconnections between human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health in Ireland.

What is One Health?

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant and environmental health. It emphasises the need for collaboration across disciplines to challenges such as the health impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, antibiotic resistance and food and water security.

Why This Matters

Human health, animal and plant health and environmental integrity are deeply interconnected. A One Health approach acknowledges these connections. Its integrated perspective moves beyond a reactive to a preventative model that tackles the root causes of illness in our environment. When ecosystems are damaged, human wellbeing suffers through pollution exposure, new infectious diseases and declining mental health. Threats to human health, in turn, impact our ability to protect the environment. A society faced with illness and reduced functional wellbeing lacks the capacity for meaningful environmental stewardship.

An Taisce, Ireland’s leading environmental NGO, works to protect both the natural and built environment. Conservation is not just about preserving landscapes and biodiversity- it is essential for safeguarding human wellbeing

What You'll Contribute

As a committee member, you'll help shape Ireland's response to these interconnected challenges. Working with fellow experts, you'll:

• help to develop and inform fora that bring together public health officials, human and animal health professionals, ecologists and policy makers to develop coordinated approaches to emerging zoonotic disease risks
• Contribute your expertise to develop evidence briefings that seek to influence public debate and decision-makers on issues like the health benefits of biodiversity protection or agricultural practices that minimise antimicrobial resistance
• Communicate the evidence on critical issues including water quality and its impact on human health, the role of nature-based solutions in climate adaptation and One Health assessments of central to Ireland's natural and cultural heritage

The committee will meet every two months a max of 8 hours per month, with additional time required for specific projects. The work programme will be collectively determined, ensuring your expertise directly influences our focus and approach.

Who We're Looking For

We seek professionals with expertise in areas such as:

• Public health and epidemiology: including experience with environmental health determinants, vector-borne diseases or health impact assessments
• Veterinary and animal health: particularly knowledge of zoonotic disease surveillance, biosecurity or sustainable animal husbandry
• Environmental conservation: including understanding of ecosystem services, habitat restoration or biodiversity monitoring
• Water, air, and food safety: such as expertise in catchment management, air quality monitoring or sustainable food systems
• Policy and advocacy: including familiarity with Irish and EU environmental health frameworks or experience in relevant law and/or policy development
• Science communication: with skills in translating complex scientific concepts for public engagement

How to Get Involved

Please go to Boadmatch.ie to apply. 

Applications will be assessed by a selection panel including representatives from An Taisce's leadership and an external independent reviewer to ensure a balanced and fair process.