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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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  • Areas of Special Scientific Interest

    Topics:
    • Land and Landscapes, 
    • Biodiversity, 
    • Protected areas
    Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) are protected areas that represent the best of our wildlife and geological sites that make a considerable contribution to the conservation of our most valuable natural places.

    The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has an online service for operations and activities requiring consent in Areas of Special Scientific Interest.

    This online consent service makes consent applications more convenient, efficient and straightforward. It is linked into NIEA’s Natural Environment map viewer, whereby applicants can easily generate maps, ‘redline’ the area where activity will be carried out and attach it to the application form.

    More in this topic

    • Introduction to ASSIs
    • ASSI notifiable operations
    • Duties of Public Bodies concerning ASSIs
    • ASSI Guidance for Public Bodies/Competent Authorities
    • Appointment of a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC)

    Related to Areas of Special Scientific Interest

    Most recent publications

    • Request for consent to carry out a notifiable operation on an ASSI

      Published 15 May 2024
    • The DAERA Science Strategy Framework has been approved by Minister

      Published 20 November 2020
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • NIEA hosts international wildfire investigation seminar

      Published 23 March 2017
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs including Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

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