Denis Faulkner: From Moville to the Middle East - a biodiversity vision of Donegal

Denis Faulkner was born and raised in Cooley, Moville, Inis Eoghain.

He enjoyed a happy childhood with his parents and six siblings on the home farm overlooking Lough Foyle. All family members helped with the main farm enterprises of beef cattle and certified seed potatoes. Broiler chickens and turkeys were also produced on the farm to help supplement income.

Prior to starting the poultry enterprise, Denis’s father, Neil, was one of the few people to hold an egg exporting licence. He set up a small industry where he collected fresh eggs from rural farms in the Glengad and Malin area of Inis Eoghain, thus providing valuable additional farm income. The eggs were then graded, packed and certified before transport to Derry Port for shipment to Glasgow. Fresh eggs were in big demand in post war Britian before the large industrial battery farms were established in the early seventies.

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Both parents placed a great emphasis on education, and this encouraged Denis to complete his Leaving Certificate at Carndonagh Community School in 1980. A four-year degree course in Agricultural Science in University College Dublin followed. This university experience opened up a whole new world of possibilities which Denis was anxious to explore.
Early Career in Agricultural Development with Kerry Group, 1984 to 1988

After graduating from UCD, Denis joined the Kerry Group as a Trainee Manager. In this role he travelled across Counties Limerick, Galway and Clare helping dairy farmers to understand and comply with modern agricultural legislation relating to quality milk production. This work involved hands on training to farmers on how to reduce somatic cell count and total bacterial count in their milk being sent to Kerry Co-Op for processing. The better the quality, the higher the price so there was a real incentive for farmers to engage.

Gaining International Agricultural Experience in Saudi Arabia
Farming in Ireland is largely natural; grass grows freely and water is abundant. In the Middle East the situation is very different. Denis accepted the challenge of working in this vastly different environment.

In Saudi Arabia he worked for a large farming organisation called Masstock. Unlike Ireland, both water and feed had to be actively produced for livestock. Wells were drilled deep into the ground to reach groundwater, which was then pumped to the surface using a centre-pivot irrigation system to water large areas of Alfalfa and other fodder crops.

Daytime temperatures regularly reached 44°C, meaning cattle had to be housed indoors and cooled. The agricultural projects were strongly supported by the Saudi government, and Denis recalls that both workers and livestock were well looked after. Denis was involved in the supply and sales of inputs to the vast dairy farms, some with up to 5000 milking cows.

Greentrack: From Farm Advisory to Environmental Consultancy
Thirteen years after graduating, Denis believed he could offer valuable support to farmers in Ireland. In 1997, he established his own company, Greentrack. Today, the company continues to operate and employs eight staff. Over time, it has expanded into environmental and ecological consultancy.

Initially working as a sole trader, Denis assisted Donegal farmers with regulatory compliance, grant applications and the adoption of more sustainable farming practices.

While helping farmers, Denis was also increasingly aware of the wider environmental and ecological challenges. These included water pollution, habitat loss, wildlife decline, illegal dumping, air pollution and unauthorised developments.

In response, Greentrack expanded its services to address broader biodiversity and environmental issues. Greentrack Consultancy Ltd. is now the leading provider of environmental and ecological services in County Donegal. Greentrack's broad range of services now includes Appropriate Assessments, Environmental Impact Assessments, habitat surveys, bat, bird and badger surveys, water vulnerability reports, site remediation reports, discharge licence and waste facility permit applications and all other general environmental compliance requirements.

Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Challenges in County Donegal
By establishing his environmental and ecological consultancy in Letterkenny, Denis hopes to see Donegal take a leading role in environmental sustainability. The county already has significant natural advantages, with approximately 25% of its land protected through various environmental designations within the Natura 2000 network. Donegal County Council has also taken substantial steps towards creating a greener and more environmentally responsible county.

However, like many regions across the world, challenges remain in relation to compliance and proactive environmental management. Denis notes that despite widespread discussion about climate change and biodiversity loss, a lot of people remain misinformed or disengaged from the issue.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have introduced several positive initiatives, including the ACRES scheme and the NPWS Fram schemes. The new Sentinel satellite land inspection system, now in use by the Department of Agriculture, allows them to identify illegal removal of habitat and appropriate penalties are then activated. The County Councils are now charged with undertaking farmyard inspections to ensure no pollution is occurring.

It is widely recognised that many rivers and natural watercourses suffer contamination from agricultural runoff. Denis argues that farmers and landowners should be supported and incentivised to establish five to 10-metre wildlife buffer zones where farmland meets rivers or streams. Wetlands should also be encouraged as a means of treating farmyard run off.

Denis believes, however, that the process should be simplified. Landowners need clearer guidance, independent professional support, which should be paid for by the Department of Agriculture and increased compensation for participating in environmental schemes should also be considered.

Rural Ireland also has a strong tradition of single rural dwellings. While this is understandable, such developments can in some cases impact local habitats. In addition, a significant number of domestic septic tanks remain poorly maintained or dysfunctional, contributing to soil and water pollution. Many rural homes also still rely on fossil fuels and lack adequate insulation.

Although legislation and enforcement have tightened considerably in recent years, illegal developments and dumping continue to occur in some areas.

Donegal County Council Taking the Lead on Biodiversity and Environmental Action
Biodiversity decline, due to industrial activity such as housing developments, quarrying activities and waste management all fall under the planning process managed by Donegal County Council. Compliance here is more difficult and a lot of work is now underway by the Council to bring all these sectors in line with required legislation. This is a very important development in relation to protecting biodiversity.

Despite all these challenges, Denis believes Donegal County Council has shown strong leadership. Recently, the council published its draft Biodiversity Plan 2026 to 2030. The document outlines a wide range of proactive initiatives aimed at strengthening biodiversity protection across the county.

The draft plan sets out numerous actions that communities and individuals can take to help place Donegal firmly on the map as a genuinely sustainable county. Importantly, the consultation process allows members of the public to contribute their views before the final plan is adopted.

The council now also employs a full-time Biodiversity Officer who is actively involved in promoting sustainable practices throughout the county.

The council is also promoting greener infrastructure in new developments. Where possible, natural drainage systems such as soakaways and swales are encouraged instead of carbon-intensive concrete attenuation tanks.

In addition, Donegal County Council is now requesting that an Ecological Clerk of Works is employed in larger and more sensitive developments to ensure all mitigation requirements designed to protect and enhance the environment are undertaken. Denis views this as a very positive development and hopes that, over time, this role will become involved in monitoring a wider range of developments to ensure strong environmental oversight.

Overall, Denis notes that Donegal County Council is open and supportive of individuals and organisations promoting environmentally sustainable initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Denis's Vision for Donegal's Future
Denis believes that long-term environmental progress requires a strong strategic approach, beginning with education. He argues that biodiversity and environmental awareness should be embedded in both primary and secondary school education.

Outdoor nature-based learning and field trips could play an important role in strengthening environmental awareness among schoolchildren. A good example would be trips to any one of the many blanked bogs around Donegal and gaining an understanding of how they have developed and their importance in carbon capture and rain fall attenuation. The risk of overgrazing or excessive peat extraction could also be discussed. Another example would be trips to the Lennon or Finn catchment areas to understand the importance of water quality and river health.

Through his professional work, he has observed a growing level of engagement among younger farmers and younger professionals involved in the construction industry, which is a very positive sign.

Although Donegal County Council’s Biodiversity Plan for the coming years is an admirable initiative, Denis stresses that strong implementation will be essential. Agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Donegal County Council and Inland Fisheries Ireland must be adequately resourced to ensure effective enforcement.

Biodiversity loss is a clear and serious environmental challenge. Denis believes that counties such as “Na Connalaigh” can take a leading role in demonstrating what can be achieved, setting an example that others can follow.

Denis Faulkner's journey from the fields of Inis Eoghain to the deserts of Saudi Arabia and back to the hills of Donegal reflects a lifetime dedicated to biodiversity.

His vision is simple but powerful: a Donegal where development, farming, tourism, nature and community live and thrive together. With the right support, education, enforcement, and political will, he believes that vision is well within reach.
Eamonn Coyle, Chartered Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist