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Northern Ireland Biodiversity

There's lots to see and enjoy.

In Northern Ireland we have a broad range of very interesting habitats as a  result of our unique geology, mild climate, relatively long coastline and a long history of settled agriculture.

Flowering meadow
  • Our inter tidal zones and inshore seas are rich in wildlife.
  • We have grassland and meadows with a varied flora and fauna.
  • Our woodlands and hedgerows are beautiful and distinctive
  • Visit our peatlands and see an entirely different  range of plants and animals.
  • Our rivers, lakes and ponds are home teeming with wildlife.
  • We don’t have far to go to see our biodiversity from urban parks to a walk on the coast.

However, all is not well with our urban, rural and marine environment.

In "Biodiversity in Northern Ireland: Recommendations to Government for a Biodiversity Strategy" the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (NIBG) identified major issues affecting Biodiversity in Northern Ireland under the following:

  • Agricultural Systems and Support
  • Coastal and Marine
  • Management Freshwater Use and Management
  • Construction and Development
  • Tourism and Recreation
  • Peatland Management
  • Introduced Species and Genetic Material

Horse mussel Beds

The Governernment recognises the issues and sets out how to deal with them in the document Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy (PDF 1.55Mb)Opens in new window.