Natural Heritage Research Partnership

  What is the Natural Heritage Research Partership (NHRP)?

The Natural Heritage Research Partnership is an innovative mechansim for procuring a range of research evidence to support or underpin the work of natural heritage conservation in Northern Ireland. Following EU wide tendering in early 2008, Quercus (Queens University Belfast) were successful in their tender to provide the this new research partnership. NHRP began in June 2008 and will last up to 10 years, subject to successful interim reviews and adequate resourcing.

NHRP's Aims and Objectives   Aims

To provide high quality natural heritage research to underpin decisions relating to the statutory duties of NIEA and to help deliver strategic targets relating to the Government's key themes of sustainable development, biodiversity and climate change.

Objectives
 

• provide NIEA with an effective, customer-focussed mechanism for managing a large research programme
• advance understanding of the natural heritage in Northern Ireland by delivering innovative science of the highest possible quality
• develop, prioritise and agree three natural heritage research programmes for years 1-4, years 5-7 and years 8-10 of the partnership, according to NIEA business need
• develop and deliver approximately 110 high quality natural heritage research projects within agreed deadlines, using the latest scientific techniques and knowledge
• establish a cost effective staffing structure which has the flexibility to cope with urgent projects which need to be carried out at short notice
• provide and demonstrate added value
• encourage and demonstrate the development of skills of new researchers entering the field of natural heritage research in Northern Ireland
• transfer scientific knowledge and skills to NIEA staff
• disseminate research findings effectively to decision makers, practitioners and the general public
• develop additional partnerships with environmental organisations, research institutions and funding bodies, which aid delivery of the agreed natural heritage research programmes

For more information on the NHRP research programme follow the link to NHRP.