Planning Nature Recovery Networks in Northern Ireland

In partnership with RSPB NI, National Trust and Woodland Trust, in the spirit of the Landscape Partnership, Ulster Wildlife is working on a 18-month, National Lottery Heritage Funded, project to build capacity to deliver nature recovery networks in Northern Ireland.

Working with a range of stakeholders, including the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), the project will create the first set of habitat network maps for Northern Ireland to better understand the current habitat cover, its level of connectivity and to identify where there is potential to make more space for nature. The mapping will also explore what 30 by 30 could look like for Northern Ireland, and how this could create the backbone of Nature Recovery Networks.  Two case studies will flow from the mapping looking at how local authorities could implement NRNs and how they could be embedded in future agri-environment schemes.

Ulster Wildlife is active in peatland restoration and in facilitating the delivery of the Environmental Farming Group Scheme, as well as looking after sites important for biodiversity. The learnings coming out of this capacity building project will guide Ulster Wildlife and other stakeholders to find a shared vision in making landscapes rich in wildlife, in a way that moves beyond looking at individual sites, and incorporates the four Lawton Principles of More, Bigger, Better and More joined-up, and where everyone has a role to play.