AQW 5710/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 10/07/2020
Answered On Date: 28/07/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) whether his Department plans to update the Biodiversity Strategy for Northern Ireland; and (ii) if so, when a first draft will be available.

Answer:

My officials are currently engaging with Defra and the other Devolved Administrations in a framework to implement the new post 2020 international targets that will be agreed by the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD will consider revised targets to halt the loss of biodiversity globally.

Following this agreement, my Department will be developing a new Biodiversity Strategy to fulfil Northern Ireland’s commitments to the new post 2020 international targets. It is anticipated that a first draft will be complete by late 2021.