Poots announces £2m Environment Fund Challenge competition

Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced a further £2million for environmental projects through an Environmental Challenge Competition, one of three strands of the Environment Fund (EF).

Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA and Heather McLachlan, National Trust’s Director for Northern Ireland, pictured on Slieve Donard in the Mourne Mountains.

Minister Poots announced the additional funding during a visit to Slieve Donard, in the Mourne Mountains, Co.Down, where he helped the National Trust repair a strategic path from ‘the saddle’ to the summit using innovative and sustainable methods. This was one of 23 projects that benefited from funding through the 2020/21 Challenge Fund.

He said: “Visiting Slieve Donard with the National Trust and taking part in helping to repair pathways to the summit has enabled me to see at first hand the excellent work undertaken by such organisations in protecting our environment. This project is an excellent example of the sustainable positive outcomes that can be achieved for biodiversity whilst promoting health and well-being through allowing responsible access to the outdoors.

“I am conscious of the significant negative impact that Covid-19 has had on organisations that work tirelessly to protect our environment, enhance access and enable visitors to experience our natural heritage and all of its diversity.

“I am therefore pleased to announce that I have allocated a further £2million for a 2021/22 Challenge Competition (Challenge Fund), to complement the existing Environment Fund, which my Department will launch in the coming weeks.

“This significant additional funding will assist Green Recovery from the Covid pandemic whilst providing further support for the delivery of key Departmental strategic aims and the Programme for Government.

“I strongly support partnership working with environmental organisations and I acknowledge the significant contribution that volunteers make to projects such as the one on Slieve Donard.  I look forward to visiting other projects in the near future to see the benefits of this collaboration.”

Heather McLachlan, the National Trust's Director for Northern Ireland said: "We were delighted to be able to show Minister Poots the expert work we are doing to restore the footpaths which give thousands of people safe access into the Mournes. We also discussed our work to restore nature and wildlife on Slieve Donard and Commedagh. As a conservation charity, our focus is on looking after these really special places so that both people and nature can thrive.”

Acknowledging the importance of funding support from DAERA for this conservation work, she added: "As Northern Ireland emerges again from lockdown, we are very aware that access to the outdoors and nature has never been in greater demand. We would urge everyone to enjoy the fresh air and wonderful views at places local to them, and also to play their part in looking after nature by keeping to the paths and taking their litter home with them."

Notes to editors: 

1. The Environment Fund is one of the mechanisms which enables not-for-profit organisations and councils to deliver key environmental priorities across Northern Ireland.
2. The Department is currently managing a three/four-year Strategic Strand of the Environment Fund and this new Environmental Challenge Competition complements that.
3. The 2020/21 Challenge Fund provided funding of £918,000 that enabled 18 environmental ‘Not for Profit’ organisations to undertake 23 diverse environmental projects including access, land acquisition, protection for biodiversity and digital mapping. Local councils, eNGOs and smaller environmental groups were amongst the recipients who benefited from this funding.
4. Further information, including guidance notes and details of how you can apply for funding, will be provided on the DAERA website when the Challenge Competition has launched.
5. Follow DAERA on Twitter and Facebook.
6. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk
7. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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