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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS)

    Topics:
    • Biodiversity, 
    • About biodiversity, 
    • Habitats

    The National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) is a partnership between the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), Plantlife and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

    Purpose of NPMS

    The NPMS is a long term monitoring scheme designed to collect data to provide an annual indication of changes in habitats by looking at plant abundance and diversity.

    NPMS Map

    How it works

    Volunteers are recruited and supported to survey 5 plots in a 1 kilometre square close to where they live. The plots will be surveyed twice a year, in late spring and again in late summer. The kilometre squares have been identified by stratified random sampling and the plants have been chosen as positive and negative indicators of the health of individual habitats. There are 3 levels volunteers can participate at depending on confidence and knowledge and support will be provided through training courses as well as email and telephone communication.

    For more information including newsletters, training and events as well as how to get involved, please visit the NPMS website.

    More useful links

    • NPMS 2021 Training webinars registration
    • NPMS Online Training
    • Understanding the Health of our Habitats

    Related content

    • Appointment of a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC)
    • Environmental Farming Scheme – Group Level Facilitation
    • Farmlands and grasslands
    • Habitat and Species Actions Plans
    • Heathlands
    • History of the Northern Ireland Countryside Survey
    • NI Countryside Survey Report Repository
    • Northern Ireland Countryside Survey
    • Northern Ireland Countryside Survey 2000 results
    • Northern Ireland Countryside Survey 2007 Results
    • Peatlands
    • What is biodiversity
    • Woodlands
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