Re-appointment of Members to the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC)
Date published:
Environment Minister Andrew Muir has announced the re-appointment of three Members of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside.
John Martin, Noel Rice and Rosemary Thomas have been appointed to a second term of appointment for one year.
The CNCC is a statutory advisory body which provides strategic advice and guidance to the Department on matters relating to nature conservation and the countryside.
Confirming the re-appointments to a second term, Minister Muir MLA said: “The knowledge, skills and experience of the CNCC Members in matters relating to the natural environment and the countryside is essential to CNCC’s important work to provide valuable and strategic advice and guidance and to my Department’s ambitions to reverse biodiversity loss and restore nature across Northern Ireland.”
CNCC’s statutory functions include advising the Department on matters relating to nature conservation including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Areas of Special Scientific Interest and nature reserves.
It also provides advice on the protection of wildlife species and on promotional and educational activities.
Notes to editors:
- The Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC) was established in 1989 under the provisions of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. Its statutory role is also covered by the provisions of The Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.
- The re-appointments are effective from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026. The appointees have previously served one term as CNCC Members from 1 December 2021 to 31 May 2025. There is no remuneration payable for the CNCC Member role.
- Members’ profiles:
John Martin has volunteered and worked in the environment and conservation sector in Northern Ireland and beyond for over 16 years. He was previously ‘Head of Policy and Advocacy’ with the RSPB in Northern Ireland and is now the Director of the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland. John was previously on the Board of the Mourne Heritage Trust and was a founding member of Jubilee farm. John has an MSc in Sustainable Development and BSc in Geography.
Noel Rice served 34 years in the NI Housing Executive (NIHE) dealing in the early part of his career with land use planning, land acquisition and disposal and programme planning. For the latter 20 years of his career he was NIHE’s Energy Conservation Manager responsible for the development of its energy conservation strategy and the policies and programmes required to implement it. Following his early retirement in 2016 Noel worked in the Belfast Hills Partnership, an environmental charity that strives to protect the wildlife and improve the biodiversity of the hills. Noel has led volunteers in planting over 6000 trees, creating wildflower meadows, removing invasive species and involving local communities in a range of biodiversity projects. Noel was a Trustee of National Energy Action for 6 years until 2022 and served on its Audit, Risk & Finance Committee. He is also on the committee of the Mourne Rambling Group.
Rosemary Thomas studied Geography followed by town and country planning at Queen’s University, Belfast. She spent the majority of her working life in the public sector in Wales, in both local and central government. Throughout her career she worked on land use matters, ranging from urban and rural policy, to transportation and energy, as well as forward planning. Rosemary worked in the former Welsh Office’s Agriculture Department prior to her appointment in 2005 as the Welsh Government’s Chief Planner.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. One candidate has declared political activity. Rosemary Thomas has previously canvassed on behalf of the SDLP.
- These appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice.
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