AQW 30047/17-22


Mr John Stewart
Ulster Unionist Party
East Antrim


Tabled Date: 21/02/2022
Answered On Date: 11/03/2022
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what consideration has been given to encouraging rewilding projects, including the reintroduction of native trees, fauna, birds and animals in Northern Ireland.


Answer:
My Department is aware of the growing interest in rewilding and re-introduction projects elsewhere in the UK and Ireland but is not currently formally engaged in encouraging projects in Northern Ireland. Developments in this area will continue to be monitored as to their applicability in halting biodiversity loss, building ecosystem resilience and providing wider ecosystem benefits in Northern Ireland.
However, my Department is actively encouraging a wide range of related habitat restoration projects.  These include restoring and encouraging extensive management on designated sites and priority habitats (such as peatlands and grasslands) and encouraging woodland development through succession and planting native trees.
To date, a limited number of species re-introduction projects have been considered and supported by DAERA, with the Red Kite being Northern Ireland’s first re-introduction of a previously extinct species. More localised introductions have also taken place to support populations of threatened species such as Red Squirrel, Freshwater Pearl Mussel and Wood Cranesbill.
Re-introduction and translocation proposals are considered with reference to International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines, and also require licencing under the Wildlife Order (NI) 1985.
The Department helps to support these habitat and species interventions and initiatives through agri-environment schemes (EFS), INTERREG and the Environment and Challenge Funds.