As part of the international push to halt biodiversity decline, Northern Ireland produced its ‘Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy’ in August 2002. This sets out NI's commitment to conserving and enhancing its biodiversity and highlighted what species and habitats needed special attention, creating a list of Priority Habitats and Priority Species.
Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) and Species Action Plans (SAPs) have been written for particular species and habitats to try and conserve and enhance their populations. They include specific actions to help and allocate agencies and organisations to lead on these actions. In addition lead partners have been selected for the HAPs and SAPs to coordinate all the relevant and interested partners into action. The Ulster Wildlife Trust is currently the lead partner for the Irish hare and the barn owl, and sits on many of the other groups.
A key method of delivering local action for biodiversity is through Local Biodiversity Action Plans. These are plans that take place in local council areas, recording the biodiversity features, and involving local people, landowners and stakeholders in projects to promote biodiversity in the area.
The Ulster Wildlife is currently co-ordinating five Local Biodiversity Action Plan projects in
Omagh,
Coleraine,
Banbridge,
Newry & Mourne, and
Fermanagh. Click on each area to find out more.
