AQW 14813/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 16/02/2021
Answered On Date: 26/02/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on his Department’s intentions to review the Habitat and Species Action Plans, published in 2000 and 2008.

Answer:

Individual Habitat and Species Action Plans were produced following the initial publication of the Northern Ireland Priority Habitats and Species Lists by the then Environment and Heritage Service. Current work is focussed on revising the priority lists and subsequently the necessary conservation actions, with a view to updating the action plans over time.

Specific action continues to be developed for habitats on designated sites, farmed priority habitats and species such as red squirrel, curlew, and other farmland wading birds.