Members of the Public Are to Be Consulted on a Draft Nature
Recovery Strategy to Restore, Manage and Protect Northern
Ireland's Habitats for Future Generations.
Daera Minister Launched a Public Consultation
Today on the Draft Strategy, Which Sets out How the Department
Will Meet International and National Ambitions on Biodiversity up
to 2032.
Nature Is in Decline Across the World, Including Northern
Ireland, Where Many Habitats and Species Are Under Threat with
40% of the Flora and Fauna in Our Most Protected Sites Falling
Short of Favourable Condition' Standards.
Only One of 49 Priority Habitat Types Here Are Considered to Be
at Favourable Conservation Status Fourth Uk Habitats Directive
Report), While One in Nine (12%) of Northern Ireland Species Are
Currently Threatened with Extinction State of Nature 2023).
Launching the Public Consultation, Minister Muir Said:
Northern Ireland Has some of the World's Most Beautiful
Landscapes and Precious Habitats. Our Society
Continues to Exert Growing Pressures on the Natural Environment,
Making It Imperative to Adopt a Collective and Comprehensive
Approach to Reverse and Prevent Further Decline. This Strategy
Has Been Developed by My Department to Provide Support Not Only
for Designated Sites but for the Wider Countryside As
Well."
The Minister Continued: Nature Can Recover If We Start
Recognising Its Value, Stop Doing Things That Harm It, and Treat
It with the Respect It Deserves. While We Have a Long Way to Go
to Halt and Reverse Current Trends We Can Take Heart from Recent
Conservation Successes, Such As the Breeding Wader Recovery
Project in the Antrim Hills and Lough Erne, the Peatland
Restoration Project at Mullaghcarn, and the Life-raft Project to
Protect Native Species on Rathlin Island. These Initiatives
Demonstrate How Collaboration and Leadership Can Deliver
Practical Action to Halt and Reverse the Decline of
Nature.
“I Look Forward to Receiving Input from
Stakeholders and the Wider Public on This Proposed Strategy, to
Help Drive Decisive Action to on Restoring and Regenerating
Biodiversity so That Future Generations Can Live in a Thriving
Natural Environment.”
The Draft Nature Recovery Strategy Contains Five Strategic
Objectives and Clear Actions to Help Deliver Transformation
Across Government, Business and Society to Safeguard and Restore
Nature and Biodiversity. This Includes Actions That Have Already
Been Agreed or Are in Development in Existing Strategies and
Policies, As Well As Additional New Actions That Have Been
Identified to Further Promote Nature Restoration.
The Proposed Additional Actions for 2026 Include:
- Publishing a Tree Planting Action Plan
- Development of a New All-ireland Pollinator Plan for 2026-30
- Development of a Protected Sites Delivery Plan
- Publishing a Plastic Pollution Plan
- Launching a Public Consultation on Northern Ireland's First
Clean Air Strategy
- Publishing the Report on Latest Northern Ireland Countryside
Survey (2022-2025)
When Preparing for the Delivery of This Strategy, Daera Will Work
to Convene a Nature Recovery Forum to Oversee Its Successful
Implementation.
The Strategy and Consultation Documents Are Available on the
Daera Website - Https://www.Daera-ni.Gov.Uk/consultations/draft-nature-recovery-strategy-daera.
Responses Should Be Submitted Before the Deadline on 18 March
2026.
Notes to Editors:
- The Fourth Uk Habitats Directive Report Is Available Here:
Article 17 Habitats Directive
Report 2019 Habitats) | Advisor to Government on Nature
Conservation | Jncc.
- The State of Nature 2023 Report Is Available Here: Northern Ireland - State of
Nature.
