Policy Position Statement on the Selection, Establishment and Management of Statutory Nature Reserves June 2011

We intend to publish a Policy Position Statement for nature reserves, country parks and historic monuments (.PDF 1.08Mb). These Statements will explain how we select and manage these properties and the characteristics of each suite of properties.

This Policy Position Statement relates specifically to Statutory Nature Reserves that incorporate both National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and Nature Reserves (NRs) as defined in Part V of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands Order 1985 and replaces the one published in 2006.

The Statement outlines:

• how Statutory Nature Reserves can continue to make a valuable contribution to the protection of biodiversity and the delivery of nature conservation objectives in the wider context
• the basis for selecting the suite of Nature Reserves using the Northern Ireland Priority 1 Habitat and Earth Science lists and the evaluation of sites against 10 qualifying characteristics
• the benefits of evaluating and rejuvenating the declaration and management of nature reserves

Working in Partnership

We will work in partnership with all Government Departments, environmental non-government organisations and private individuals and land owners to refine the paper and develop an implementation plan. It is envisaged that the implementation programme will be produced by March 2012, with an overall target to have a comprehensive suite of statutory nature reserves declared by 2020.

This Position Statement has been approved by the Natural Heritage Directorate of NIEA and by the Committee for Nature Conservation and Countryside. We are now seeking comments on the paper on or before 30 September 2011. Please contact Hugh McCann to arrange to discuss the paper and/or send comments to hugh.mccann@doeni.gov.uk.