Archived press release

Wildlife losses points to need for new Environmental Protection Agency

29 September 2005

A report published today on the continued decline of Northern Ireland's precious wildlife points to the need for a new Environmental Protection Agency, according to Friends of the Earth. The green pressure group was responding to the publication of a report by the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group, a Government-appointed group of independent experts. Their report warns that DOE is unlikely to meet its own targets for the recovery of wildlife populations.

Lisa Fagan, Campaigner at Friends of the Earth insisted that a new independent agency was needed to protect wildlife species and their habitats:

'Twenty years after the introduction of legislation to protect Northern Ireland's best sites for wildlife [1], only 225 have been designated by DOE. The birds and animals that live in the remaining 175 qualifying sites are denied the legal protection they deserve. These sites include wildflower meadows, mountainous bogland, stretches of coastline and native woods, but without designation, they can be developed, drained, ploughed, reseeded, deforested or quarried. DOE's site designation programme is woefully slow, illustrating that Northern Ireland needs an ambitious new Environmental Protection Agency to take on the job of wildlife protection.'

Notes

[1] The Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands Order 1985, now superseded by the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002, requires that nationally important wildlife sites be designated as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs). Only 225 have been designated to date, leaving around 175 qualifying sites without the legal protection they deserve. Responsibility for designating ASSIs lies with DOE Environment and Heritage Service.

[2] A coalition of nine leading environmental organisations (see list below) has been campaigning for the creation of an independent Environmental Protection Agency to take on the responsibilities currently held by DOE Environment and Heritage Service: nature conservation, pollution control and built heritage protection.

[3] In response to the coalition campaign, Environment Minister Lord Rooker announced on 28 July 2005 that he would initiate a Review of Environmental Governance to examine whether Northern Ireland ought to have an Environmental Protection Agency. The Review is due to begin in October.

[4] Coalition members are:
Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland
Friends of the Earth
National Trust
Northern Ireland Environment Link
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Ulster Wildlife Trust
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Woodland Trust
WWF

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust