During the preparation of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy and subsequently a number of Northern Ireland species requiring conservation action have been identified. 
This list of Northern Ireland priority species was published in March 2004 and subsequently approved by the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (NIBG) in October 2004.
This list forms the basis for selecting species requiring Northern Ireland Species Action Plans (SAPs).
The Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group
recognised the need to develop lists of Northern Ireland priority species (which require conservation action) and species of conservation concern (which require monitoring because they may need conservation action in the future).