'Urgent action' needed to protect NI nature sites, reports warns
a colony of puffins sits on a rock
Northern Ireland's most precious places for nature, including Rathlin, need greater protection, the report says
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) must take "urgent action" to protect Northern Ireland's most precious places for nature, according to a report.
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found the condition of environmentally-sensitive areas in Northern Ireland is declining and not enough sites are being identified.
It says while the laws to support the identification and management of the areas are strong, their implementation falls short of what is needed.
NI's Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir has said nature recovery is one of his key priorities, adding that more work needs to be done to protect biodiversity.
The report has made 14 recommendations to Daera, including setting targets supported by a plan, and ensuring that restoring protected sites is a key consideration in the new Farming with Nature agri-environment scheme, which is currently being developed by the department.
The chief executive of the OEP, Natalie Prosser, called for action to turn things around.
"Instead of seeing the improvement of these precious sites, we see deterioration," she said.
"And the designation of areas as protected sites has effectively stalled with no new sites being designated since 2018, leaving important places for nature unprotected.
"Our report identifies that the failings are largely not in the legal framework for protecting these natural treasures, instead it is the implementation of these important laws that is falling short."
Andrew Muir standing on the shore of Lough Neagh in February 2024. He has short, dark, greying hair and glasses. He is wearing a waterproof navy coat with the collar turned up, over a blue shirt.
Daera Minister Andrew Muir says the report will have 'full and prompt consideration'
Sites are protected to support vulnerable species, like rare or threatened plants, animals and species.
Legal protection should ensure better management.
The habitats and species features of sites that were in favourable condition dropped from 61.7% in 2008 to 51.5% in 2024.
Meanwhile, work to earmark further sites for protection has slowed, with Northern Ireland lagging behind the rest of the UK, Ireland and Europe in its coverage of protected sites.
The report found that while there had been spells of progress in protecting designated areas, the action had not been sped up, scaled up or sustained for any period of time.
Northern Ireland has the lowest designation of protected sites in the UK and lags behind Ireland and Europe as well.
Muir has said he is "firmly committed to ensuring that full and prompt consideration is given to the findings and recommendations".
Blue-green algae on the River Bann where it meets Lough Neagh near the village of Toome. Two swans sit on the water
The minister said Lough Neagh has been a 'wake-up call'
The minister added: "While I am pleased that the report has found that the legal framework is largely fit for purpose, it is clear that our stewardship of the natural environment has not been as robust as it ought to be, and the OEP's constructive proposals to turn things around are welcome."
Muir said Lough Neagh, badly affected by blue-green algae over recent years, has acted as a "wake-up call for what is needed" across protected sites.
He said proposals to develop a conservation plan for the lough had now been signed off, one of a number of moves designed to improve environmental protections.
"Phased roll-out of the Farming with Nature support package for farmers is also about to commence," Muir said.
"In addition to this, I also intend to consult on the Nutrients Action Programme and the Nature Recovery Strategy in the coming weeks.
"These policies, once finalised, will further strengthen our policy framework and help drive action on the ground to turn this situation around."
Priority habitats and species
The Environmental Improvement Plan sets targets to "achieve favourable conservation status for Northern Ireland's priority habitats and species".
It includes plans to publish conservation management plans by the end of 2024, and a review of what is needed to complete the protected site network by March 2025.
Protected sites are an important part of the 30 by 30 International Global Biodiversity Framework target to which the UK is a signatory.
It commits the UK to protecting at least 30% of its land and sea by 2030, to align with the global target, with Northern Ireland playing its part in that.