Conservation Action For Priority Species in Northern Ireland

As part of the UK priority species review it was recognised that it would not be sensible to publish species action plans for all species on the considerably expanded list.
Consequently, as part of the UK review, signposted actions have been identified for each species.
These indicate those species whose conservation needs may be addressed by a limited range of actions relating to habitat action plans, designated site management, research and survey or other cross-cutting action such as pollution control. These species would generally not need dedicated species action plans.
This signposting exercise has recently been completed at a UK level and will be presented to each country for comment in the near future.

It is proposed that a similar signposting exercise will be undertaken by the Northern Ireland Species Biodiversity Delivery Group for the new Northern Ireland priority species list.

This will build on the UK signposting exercise and identify how action for individual species will be undertaken. It is envisaged that action in Northern Ireland for many species can primarily be delivered through habitat delivery groups, designated site management or undertaking research and survey.

For those poorly recorded species groups and data deficient species, increased recording effort is required. For many priority species conservation action will be undertaken through existing UK species action plans, the management of designated sites or as a part of Northern Ireland Habitat Action Plans.

However, some priority species will require Northern Ireland species action plans or all-Ireland species action plans.

The approach being taken by ourselves with regard to the priority species review process and the way forward were approved by both CNCC (27 September 2009) and NIBG (18 November 2009).