Biodiversity

Articles and links on the subject of biodiversity and EU Exit.

Our protected areas represent the very best of our natural landscapes, biodiversity and geodiversity, forming the cornerstone of nature conservation by supporting plants, animals and habitats that are rare or unique. The on-going protection and management of this coherent network of sites will ensure that these important natural and cultural assets can be enjoyed by this and future generations.

The Northern Ireland Squirrel Forum (NISF) was established to bring together statutory and non-statutory organisations as well as representatives of country parks, private landowners and local volunteer organizations dedicated to protecting the red squirrel in Northern Ireland.

The video has not been updated since 2022 and therefore makes reference to previous tranches. Please note, however, that the process remains the same but that there is no wider option for tranche 8.

This page provides guidance and supporting documents for anyone planning activities that may affect marine habitats, protected areas or protected species in Northern Ireland.

This page provides general information and guidance for the Environmental Farming Scheme.

Training videos for the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) – Higher Level Options online application - Higher NPIs.

Invasive species are one of the five top reasons for biodiversity loss, as identified by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). They can negatively impact on native species, can transform habitats and threaten whole ecosystems, causing serious problems to the environment and economy.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is seeking to appoint a new Chair and up to 18 members to the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC). The CNCC provides independent, specialist advice to the Department (DAERA) on matters affecting the countryside and nature conservation and Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) with due regard to matters affecting agriculture, forestry and inland fisheries.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are entirely aquatic although they must come to the surface to breathe air through their lungs. These animals do not strand under normal circumstances, therefore, if present on the shore they will likely require assistance especially if still alive.

Marine animals such as sharks or marine turtles spend all of their lives at sea, with marine turtles surfacing to breathe air. Marine turtles haul out onto land to lay eggs but not in UK/Irish waters.

Two species of seal inhabit the coast and seas around Northern Ireland. The harbour seal is smaller, has a dog-like face and prefers more sheltered habitats. The grey seal is larger, has a longer head and is more often seen in exposed areas.

Dr Sara McGuckin, Head of Natural Science with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency outlines why Lough Neagh is so important, to Northern Ireland and internationally, in terms of its biodiversity and explains some of the conservation designations which are in place to protect it.

The shores of Lough Neagh are home to the curlew, a unique Irish bird with its sickle-shaped bill and haunting call. But the curlew is in decline with numbers on the island of Ireland having fallen from an estimated 10,000 breeding pairs in the 1980s to fewer than 300 breeding pairs.

Designated as a special protection area Lough Neagh and its surrounding islands provide a multitude of vital habitats for birdlife. The lough is a particularly important refuge for winter migrating birds, but it has seen a steep decline in the numbers of tufted duck, goldeneye and pochard visiting it in recent years. Steven Fyffe from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Sorrel Lyall from the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) explain more about Lough Neagh’s importance for our bird population.

Non-native species around the shores of Lough Neagh and within the Lough itself are causing real harm. From Japanese knotweed to Himalayan balsam, giant hogweed and zebra mussels the Lough’s ecosystem is being damaged, and its native species are under threat.

Lough Neagh Partnership Rangers protect the habitat of Lough Neagh and its shoreline. Ciara Laverty talks about the importance of the biodiversity of Lough Neagh and its shoreline.