Manifesto for Nature and the Environment - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022 - Ulster Wildlife
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Manifesto for Nature and the Environment Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022
Manifesto for Nature
and the Environment
The next Programme for Government provides an opportunity to
Ragged Robin at Co. Fermanagh
take long overdue action for nature and climate.
The actions taken by our government corridors and stepping stones that
will affect the future of every person connect to larger, wilder spaces across
living here - this manifesto is a call for the landscape, including farmland
all political parties to take immediate managed for nature.
and decisive action on the joint nature
and climate crises. Nature’s recovery To achieve nature’s recovery, and in
is vital for tackling climate change turn to mitigate climate change, it
and also essential in building a green is no longer enough to think about
recovery to the Covid-19 pandemic; slowing the loss of the natural world
providing a platform for the Northern and protecting what remains. We need
Ireland economy as it seeks a to stop and reverse the declines, and
sustainable and profitable future. put nature into recovery, at scale and
at pace.
Nature reserves and designated sites
are invaluable, but to keep these We can turn things around before
protected areas from becoming wild it’s too late - nature is capable of
oases in an otherwise impoverished extraordinary recovery, but only if
landscape, we need to use every single we act now.
space to help wildlife. Our gardens,
road verges, parks and even houses
and offices can become part of a
wilder network, creating vital green
Restoring Nature
Our connection to nature is important and an essential part of
Common dolphin © R Surgenor
our daily lives; nature is not a luxury but is in fact essential to
our humanity, health and well-being.
We need clean air & water, healthy functioning ecosystems, wildlife and wild places
to thrive. By creating more space for nature, we are creating better lives for everyone.
Many of our current systems and laws have failed the natural world and it is now
time to turn things around. We need to do things differently: business as usual won’t
be good enough and the next ten years will be critical.
We must restore nature by:
• Halting the systemic loss of nature by • Adopting a ‘biodiversity net gain’
protecting the habitats that remain principle in planning decisions.
and implementing a national nature (Biodiversity Net Gain is an approach to
recovery network with at least 30% development that leaves biodiversity in
of land and 30% of sea protected, a better state than before).
connected and well managed for
nature by 2030. This must include the
development of local nature recovery
plans, and an ambitious and adequately
resourced Environment Strategy with
nature restoration targets set in law.
• Introducing new sustainable agriculture • Fulfilling the commitment in “New
and fisheries policies that ensure fair Decade, New Approach” to establish an
returns for farmers and fishers, while independent Environmental Protection
cutting emissions and restoring nature. Agency to oversee and enforce all
relevant environmental legislation.
Combatting
Climate Change
Biodiversity loss and climate change are both driven by human
Cuilcagh Mountain
activities and mutually reinforce each other. Neither will be
successfully resolved unless both are tackled together.
We must play our part in ensuring that global temperature rise will be limited to the
1.5 degrees Celsius target set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement by implementing truly
green, sustainable growth.
Ultimately, our economy is dependent on a stable resilient natural environment and
we need to act now if we want to stop eroding the very fundamentals of our society’s
prosperity and well-being.
We must combat climate change and its effects by:
• Implementing the Climate Change • Fully implementing ‘nature-based
Act for Northern Ireland, producing solutions’ to climate change e.g.
the first carbon budget by 2023 and peatland, coastal/marine and
associated sectoral climate action woodland creation and restoration to
plans with ‘nature-based projects’ support our journey to net zero and to
integrated throughout these. help minimise risks of flooding, erosion
and wild fires from climate change.
• Agreeing the presumption against • Providing financial incentives for
all new fossil fuel infrastructure in green initiatives and retrofitting for
Northern Ireland with no new licenses domestic and business energy users.
for fossil fuel exploration, extraction
or storage being issued.
Nature and People
As a society, we have accepted a creeping decline of our natural
Youth Forum at Bog Meadows
world. Wildlife is actually in freefall and yet, for many, the
present decline of nature is seen as normal.
We have also seen our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, particularly children
and young people. Research shows that those who have the least access to nature
also have the worst levels of physical health and mental wellbeing.
We want to see a Northern Ireland where nature and people are thriving together.
We want wildlife returning and natural systems restored, enriching and sustaining
the lives of people as a result.
Young people have a unique role to play in addressing the environmental challenges
we face in Northern Ireland. By virtue of their age, they have the longest period of
time to drive forward and achieve the positive changes that are needed. They have
the most to lose and the most to gain from work to protect the environment and
associated growth in green jobs.
We must support nature and people by:
• Ensuring more time is spent learning • Funding for nature-friendly school
in and about nature in schools, with grounds and outdoor classrooms, and
guidance issued to schools on a training for schools to teach more
minimum recommended time spent outdoors, particularly for those in
learning outdoors per week. areas of multiple deprivation.
• Mainstreaming social prescribing to • Introducing a ‘Nature Jobs’ scheme to
encourage more people to gain the support young people to gain skills and
well-being benefits of time spent in employment in nature conservation
nature. and restoration to help fill the existing
skills gap in the sector.
Ulster Wildlife is NI’s
largest local nature
conservation charity.
Our purpose is to
protect and restore
nature on land and at
sea. We will play our
part in ending the
climate and ecological
emergencies, creating a
society where nature is
valued and is part of our
daily lives.
Ulster
Ulster
Wildlife
Wildlife
Ulster Wildlife T: 028
T: 028 T: 028
9045
90454094
4094
9045 4094 @UlsterWildlife
@UlsterWildlife
@UlsterWildlife
McClelland
McClelland
McClelland
House,
House,House,
10 10
Heron
Heron
10 Heron Road, E: E:
Road,
Road, E: info@ulsterwildlife.orgulsterwildlife
info@ulsterwildlife.org
info@ulsterwildlife.org ulsterwildlife
ulsterwildlife
Belfast,
Belfast,
BT3
Belfast,
BT3
9LE.
9LE.
BT3 9LE. @ulsterwildlife
@ulsterwildlife
@ulsterwildlife
www.ulsterwildlife.org
www.ulsterwildlife.org
www.ulsterwildlife.org
www.ulsterwildlife.org
Ulster
Ulster
Wildlife
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Front Cover: Bumblebee © D McClean
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Back Cover: Red squirrel © A Gerrard
A company
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limited by guarantee NI 12711.
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