Northern Ireland Native Woodland Group

Last updated: 16 November 2011

In 2005, we completed a suite of woodland habitat action plans (HAPs). These plans detail a range of targets and actions for government departments and agencies with the aim of protecting the bio.diversity throughout our native woodlands.

The main objectives of the native woodland HAPS are:

to maintain the extent of existing native woodland habitats and prevent the loss of ancient semi-natural woodland
to enhance the ecological condition of existing native woodlands to achieve favourable condition
to increase the area of native woodland by the following
creation of new native woodland through planting and natural regeneration
restoration of some plantations on ancient woodland sites
conversion of non native plantation to native woodland on sites other than ancient woodland sites

In Northern Ireland, the four HAPs relating to woodland are:

Role of the Northern Ireland Native Woodland Group

In 2003, the Northern Ireland Native Woodland Group was set up comprising of government agencies and private and voluntary sectors. It is chaired by Forest Service and the main functions of the Group are to:

co-ordinate monitoring and reporting on native woodland habitats in the context of Biodiversity Action Plans and relevant policies
co-ordinate activities in relation to woodland habitats, including; development of best practice; advice on relevant Biodiversity Action Plans; guidance for landowners and other stakeholders; liaison with woodland interests in the Republic of Ireland, the UK and further afield and facilitate interpretation and education
provide advice and commission research as required
provide technical advice on and engage in the delivery of the Northern Ireland Native Woodland Group Implementation Framework

The Group is represented on the UK Native Woodland Habitat Co-ordination Group which deals with common UK-wide elements of the native woodland plans.