Debate contribution: Nature Recovery Strategy: Consultation Launch

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 20 January 2026.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

20 January 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

Nature Recovery Strategy: Consultation Launch

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5348275

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I commend you on your tie.

Yes, I did notice. I thank the House for the opportunity to make this statement to the Assembly on the launch of the consultation on the Northern Ireland draft nature recovery strategy. The statement will explain why a nature recovery strategy for Northern Ireland is a timely and vital intervention that is needed to reverse the decline in nature. I will also outline to Members the arrangements for the launch of the consultation on the draft strategy and the proposed timeline for proceeding to publication of the finalised strategy. Nature is for all of us, but we can no longer take it for granted. Interventions are required if we are to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy and benefit from time spent in nature. Lough Neagh, regrettably, remains a stark example of the consequences of ignoring the needs of nature, with all its human and environmental costs. Other warning signs are also present across Northern Ireland, with habitats not being protected as they should be and native species being threatened by climate change, pollution, invasive species and land-use change. The nature recovery strategy must be the start of a new chapter where we cherish nature, recognising that nature is the foundation upon which society is built. The strategy should serve as a call to action and must ignite a shared commitment to protect and recover our precious natural environment. The strategy is one of my 10 key pledges for the mandate, as published in the Department’s corporate plan, and I am determined to see it not just in place but implemented, putting nature firmly on the road to recovery. I am pleased to inform the House, therefore, that a new nature recovery strategy has been drafted and is being launched for consultation later today. I thank the range of stakeholders who helped shape the draft strategy to get us to this milestone. I look forward to engaging with stakeholders during the consultation window and receiving feedback, which I am sure will be hugely valuable and help inform the final text. The nature recovery strategy meets the statutory requirement under the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 for my Department to develop and regularly review a biodiversity strategy to further the conservation of biodiversity in Northern Ireland. Its name reflects my belief that we need to do more than just conserve biodiversity; we must also help nature to recover and regenerate, and the strategic objectives and actions that are set out aim to achieve just that. Sadly, nature is in decline not just across Northern Ireland but throughout the world, and urgent action is needed to address the biodiversity crisis. We are witnessing further loss of habitats and species and the ecosystem services that they provide. Those include providing us with our most basic needs such as food, clean air and water, and shelter. Nature also plays an important role in helping to regulate our climate and offers us opportunities for recreation that enhance our health and well-being. We only have to look back to storm Éowyn this time last year as an example of the impact of more extreme weather on our communities and environment to realise that nature is our ally in taking climate action. For its size, Northern Ireland is one of the most geologically diverse areas of the planet. That has resulted in a rich and internationally important biodiversity of some 20,000 species across our land, soils, air and waters. Northern Ireland is home to species that are found nowhere else in the UK. They include pollan — a fish found in Lough Neagh and Lower Lough Erne — and subspecies such as the Irish hare. I am very excited to watch BBC's 'Winterwatch', which airs tonight from Mount Stewart, putting a positive spotlight on Northern Ireland. A significant component of our biodiversity lies within the marine environment, including our sea loughs and estuaries. However, in Northern Ireland, around 40% of the flora and fauna in our most protected sites falls short of the defined standard for "favourable condition", while only one of 49 priority habitat types in Northern Ireland is considered to be at "favourable conservation status". Protecting and restoring nature is not just a nice thing to do. We have a moral and legal obligation to do it. There are huge social and economic benefits to returning to a world that is rich in nature. In December 2022, Northern Ireland, alongside the rest of the UK, joined the global community in committing to the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework, which was agreed at the Conference of the Parties 15 (COP15) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The global biodiversity framework sets out, in 23 targets and four goals, the urgent actions required to "bend the curve" of biodiversity loss by 2030 and move towards the 2050 vision where biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits that are essential for all people. The framework sets an ambitious target to move us towards the 2050 vision, which is known as the 30 by 30 target. That essentially commits us to having 30% of our terrestrial and inland water, and marine and coastal areas, effectively conserved and managed for nature and biodiversity by 2030. An existing biodiversity duty, which applies to all Departments and public bodies, states:

"It is the duty of every public body, in exercising any functions, to further the conservation of biodiversity so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions."

That is supported by the legislative requirement to set biodiversity targets in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. In reality, around 9·9% of Northern Ireland's terrestrial land area and approximately 38% of our terrestrial waters are designated as protected sites, although some of those may not be in a good enough ecological condition to contribute to the 30 by 30 target immediately. The objectives and actions in the draft nature recovery strategy aim to fulfil our global commitments, legislative obligations and climate goals by providing bigger, better-managed and more connected nature. The draft nature recovery strategy demonstrates my commitment to fulfilling the actions in the global biodiversity framework. It also highlights the actions that we are taking already at a local level and proposes new actions for Northern Ireland, which add to the existing framework of targets in relevant policies and strategies that are already in place and aim to deliver for biodiversity. I want the nature recovery strategy to be about hope: hope that nature can thrive if we start recognising its value and taking necessary action; hope that, by our stopping the harm and being more responsible, nature can recover; and hope that we can all live side by side with nature and enjoy its riches and benefits. By putting in place plans and actions to restore and better manage areas for nature and adopt more nature-positive policies using the best available science and evidence, we can ensure that it is protected for future generations. Indeed, the much good that is already being done and the many great projects that are taking place across Northern Ireland are demonstrating nature recovery in action. As Minister, I have had the privilege of seeing that work at first hand. The LIFE Raft project on Rathlin, for example, is truly inspiring and will be transformative for the seabird population on the island. It shows what can be achieved through cooperation with local communities, environmental organisations such as the RSPB and my Department. At Mourne Park, the Woodland Trust is restoring and conserving our ancient woodland as part of wider efforts to preserve one of our most stunning landscapes. Again, that illustrates what can be achieved by collaborative working. Peatland is one of our most precious habitats, and it is an essential carbon sink. It is supported by our new peatland strategy. With funding from my Department, the peatland collaborative network is undertaking essential management and rewetting projects at the Belfast hills. Furthermore, species such as curlew are being brought back from the brink in places such as the Antrim hills. That is a result of the good work that is being done by many, especially the RSPB. We cannot let our guard down, however. We must do much more to build on those successes. We know what the solutions are: there are inspiring examples of conservation successes. We need collective will to take the tough decisions that are necessary if we are to deliver recovery at scale. Those examples show what can be achieved when we work together for the benefit of nature and people, working to simultaneously tackle the joint crises in biodiversity and climate, and reaping the benefits for public health and well-being. Every one of us has a duty to give due regard to nature. Whether in the public or private sector or as individuals, every citizen has a part to play. I encourage everyone to read the draft nature recovery strategy when it is launched later today and to share their views on it and their ideas for putting nature on the road to recovery. The consultation documents will be available on the DAERA website, which will also contain information on how to respond. The consultation will be open for eight weeks, and there will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with my officials during that time. I have provided the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee with a written briefing on the launch of the strategy. After the consultation closes, all responses will be considered and the strategy will be finalised and prepared for publication. I reiterate my thanks to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for affording me the opportunity to make this statement. I appeal to everyone to engage with the consultation, so that we can all play our part in restoring nature and can, collectively, appreciate its beauty for generations to come.

Thank you, Daniel, for your questions. If I did not carry out consultations, I would, rightly, be criticised. That is an important statutory duty that gives people the opportunity to have their say, and that is what I am giving people over the next eight weeks. I am conscious that lots of actions need to be taken to restore nature. I see not just the situation with Lough Neagh but that with our uplands, and I am taking action. For example, there are four pillars relating to water quality, which could be transposed to that issue: education, incentivisation, regulation and enforcement. I will not be found wanting when it comes to regulation and enforcement, and it is important that we have education and incentivisation. We have received the draft Budget from the Finance Minister. We are going through that as a Department to see what we can do with it. These are challenging financial circumstances, but I am a person who has hope, and I am conscious that funding is available through, for example, PEACE PLUS and the Shared Island Fund. I am grateful to the Irish Government for the support that they have given to us on nature and particularly for peatland restoration. It is important that we work on an all-Ireland basis. There is lots to do, and I am committed to doing it.

Thank you, Robbie. It is an important issue. There are already statutory duties on nature, and the public bodies that have responsibility for those areas need to uphold those duties. It is important that I say that. I am aware of the issues that you set out. It is important that we all work together. We see the benefits of nature, particularly for tourism. If we visit such areas, we can see that they are very busy, particularly at weekends. People appreciate nature. If there are particular issues on which you would like me to follow up with the Infrastructure Minister, I will be happy to do that. We all have a role to play in restoring nature so that it is there for future generations to enjoy.

A number of actions are under way already. Those are set out in the environmental improvement plan (EIP). Additional actions are reflected in the nature recovery strategy.

One of the important measures in supporting our farming community is Farming with Nature. We started the roll-out of that last year with the transition scheme, and there are further actions to be taken this year. We are doing that through a co-design process. It is important that we do that. A lot of work needs to be done to support our farming community with the challenges regarding nature so that we can build that resilience. We are focused on doing that alongside delivering on our peatland strategy, which we launched last September. There is lots to do on those issues. They are key issues for the general public; people raise them with me regularly. I am also committed to continuing to engage with my Irish Government colleagues, because biodiversity issues are transboundary and it is important that we cooperate on them.

The strategy sits comfortably alongside those things. The Infrastructure Minister recently published a strategic planning policy statement on renewable energy, and that interrelates with those issues. Each application to do with renewable energy is considered on its merits, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) will give its response. However, there are real benefits to us as a society from investing in renewables, such as lower bills and energy security. I view those things through a wider prism, and there are real benefits associated with us all working together to restore nature while delivering energy security.

Thank you, John. The issue of ammonia is of serious importance, and anyone who is in any doubt about that should read the Office for Environmental Protection report published in 2024. It sets that out, along with the history of how the Department approached the matter. I am aware that ammonia emissions in Northern Ireland remain stubbornly high, and I am determined to find a pathway to reduce them as well as supporting sustainable development in the agriculture sector. Following engagement with farming and environment sector representatives late last year, I believe that we can work together to develop a Northern Ireland-wide ammonia support programme to unlock the issue. My officials have been working at pace with stakeholders to develop that pathway, which reduces emissions — we must do that — and addresses practical issues, such as replacement sheds. I will continue to engage with the Finance Minister on the draft Budget, because that is important, if I am to find a way forward, for funding the sustainable farming investment scheme, so that we can support farmers to take the appropriate actions. Let there be no doubt that the levels of ammonia pollution in Northern Ireland are of serious concern to me. We can find a way forward that reduces ammonia emissions and deals with the practical issues that have been reported to me by the agriculture community. I am keen to progress that in the months ahead.

Thank you, Declan. There are two ways. One is the roll-out of the co-design process for the Farming with Nature scheme. It is important that we do that. The other one is the wider issue around land use. The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission did a lot of work on a land use framework, and we hope to publish that in the time ahead. I thank everyone who engaged with the commission on that. It will come back with a report, which will provide a template for moving forward. I want to do that in conjunction and partnership with people, so that we find better ways to manage our land and, most important, build that resilience. I am conscious that we need to build resilience in nature so that we can deliver a successful future for farming, and I am committed to doing that.

2,666 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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