Biodiversity in Northern Ireland

Introduction

Northern Ireland’s Economy, society and environment are supported by a diverse range of habitats and species (around 20 000 known species have been recorded). Forty habitats and 213 species are identified as priorities for conservation action in Northern Ireland (Biodiversity in Northern Ireland: Recommendations to Government for a Biodiversity Strategy, Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group). Northern Ireland Habitat Action Plans have been prepared for 12 habitats, including blanket bog, seagrass beds and species-rich hedgerows and Species Action Plans have been published for the Irish hare, red squirrel, chough and curlew.

National Context

Northern Ireland has developed a number of Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) and Species Action Plans (SAPs) as part of the UK BAP process.

The Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (NIBG) was formed in 1996 with representatives from central and local government, businesses, and the voluntary sector to carry out research and produce recommendations on implementing the UK BAP in Northern Ireland. In October 2000, the NIBG wrote a report called ’Biodiversity in Northern Ireland: Recommendations to Government for a Biodiversity Strategy’, providing a framework for biodiversity action in Northern Ireland, identifying the main issues affecting biodiversity, and proposing measures to support the conservation of Biodiversity for the period 2001-2016.

The Environmental Strategy for Northern Ireland is the Executive’s response to the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group’s recommendation for a strategy, which were presented to the then Environmental Minister, Sam Foster, in October 2000. The Biodiversity Strategy acknowledges the importance of biodiversity, the need for its protection and some of the ways for integrating biodiversity into Environmental Management Systems. The overarching purpose of the document is to meet the commitment of protecting and enhancing the biodiversity in Northern Ireland and it sets out how the Executive plans will do this over the period up to 2016.

All- Ireland Species Action Plans

Northern Ireland shares waterways and cross-border conservation sites with the Republic of Ireland. Therefore, in order to successfully implement the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy, all-Ireland action plans should be considered seriously if declining of biodiversity is to take place.

Ireland has an important role in the conservation of the Irish hare, corncrake and pollan. National Parks and Wildlife and Environment and Heritage Service are developing an All-Ireland Species Action Plan to reverse the declining status of those species. The plan deals with biodiversity issues and the needs to protect the environment in an all-Ireland basis, as identifies in both the Irish National Biodiversity Action Plan for Ireland and the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy.

Links

Department of Environment (DOE) bares the responsibility of planning control. Under the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy, the Planning Service will regard biodiversity issues when developing policies on Nature Conservation, Waste Management and those relevant to the Minerals and the Coast.

Environmental and Heritage Service (EHS) is responsible for developing Biodiversity Action Plans, the protection of rare and endangered species and habitats.

Quercus is a co-operative research centre for biodiversity and conservation biology, established in 2003 by Queen’s University Belfast and the Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland. It provides expert advice to EHS and works to assist the Government responsibility for biodiversity and nature conservation.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has been given the responsibility to act on reducing the impact of agricultural policy. Reference to biodiversity commitments will feature in DARD’s Business plans as well as those for its Forest and Fisheries sectors. DARD will assist the sea fishing industry to operate on a sustainable basis and is conducting a review of forest policy including issues such as protection of native woodlands and increasing appropriate woodland cover.

Arena Network co-ordinate all business environmental initiatives in Northern Ireland and to provide an environmental support service to local business. ARENA Network works at both a strategic and local level to advise business and key decision makers across Northern Ireland.

Publications

Ireland Biodiversity Group, Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy Proposals, June 1999.

Dr Sue Armstrong-Brown & Anna Shiel, Achieving the Vision: Steps towards a Sustainable Agriculture In Northern Ireland, RSBP, 2001.

Murphy, John and Donaghly, Anita, Birds of Irish Farmland: conservation management guidelines, RSBP Northern Ireland & BirdWatch Ireland.

Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, Responses to Northern Ireland Draft Priorities and Budget 2004-2007.

Photo Credit:Jo Zaremba, Earthwatch Institute (Europe)