Biodiversity

The UK Government, along with over 150 others, is committed to the conservation of biodiversity. This is the short term commonly used when referring to ‘biological diversity’ and encompasses the total variety of all living things on earth – rocks, soils, water, plants, birds and animals. To assist in this commitment, the Government established advisory groups in each of the four countries of the United Kingdom.

In 1996, the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (NIBG) was established after nominations were sought from the key sectors: local government, the business and farming communities, the voluntary sector, and central government. The NIBG saw the value of developing a strategy that would assist in delivering the UK’s commitment and take into account the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland. Implementation of this strategy means more than just government action. All sectors of society must become involved.

Biodiversity in Northern Ireland includes all of the 20,000 or so different species of living things that are found here on land, in the soil, in the air and in our waters. However, this biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate. The impact of agriculture is an important example. Changes in agricultural practices in response to European policies have changed the face of the agricultural landscape. The replacement of traditional and more sustainable land management practices with more intensive systems has led to a loss of habitats where a great variety of plants and animals could live. 90% of our lowland raised bogs have been lost or altered due to peat extraction, forestry and drainage. Few of our once common hay meadows survive. Our freshwaters suffer from nutrient enrichment to a greater or lesser degree and a significant factor in this has been agricultural run-off from the increasing use of inorganic fertilisers and slurry application. These are just a few examples of environmental degradation from only one sector of the economy. The environmental impact of tourism, commercial fishing, retailing, the construction industry, manufacturing and other sectors across the range of economic activity has added to the damage. The environmental challenge which faces Northern Ireland cannot be overstated.

Sustainable development means social progress for everyone, high and stable levels of economic growth and employment, effective protection of the environment, and prudent use of natural resources. Effective protection of the environment means setting ourselves exemplary standards in this area and our goal must therefore be to have the highest quality of environment possible in the United Kingdom. In order to achieve this goal, conservation of biological diversity needs to be fully integrated into all policy-making decisions. Only in this way can we be sure of having an environment which supports the health of its citizens, its wildlife and its economy.

Northern Ireland still has many areas of natural habitat with a high density of dry stone walls and hedgerows. These are very important habitats for our wildlife and are highly prized for their biodiversity but have declined in area since the baseline Northern Ireland Countryside Survey of 2000. One of our chief broad goals is to halt biodiversity decline, and measure the extent of this arrest by repeating Countryside Surveys at regular intervals.

For further details on any of the above, please contact:

Martina Magee
Environment Officer
Fermanagh District Council
Townhall
Enniskillen
County Fermanagh
Northern Ireland
BT74 7BA

Telephone     (028) 6632 5050
Facsimile      (028) 6632 2024
Email            martina.magee@fermanagh.gov.uk