Northern Ireland is falling behind on its commitment to protect 30 percent of its land, inland water, coastal and marine areas by 2030, a new report from Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) warns, Agriland reports.

The "30by30" target comes from the global biodiversity framework agreed at COP15 four years ago, and Northern Ireland has committed to it through its Programme for Government, Environmental Improvement Plan and Nature Recovery Strategy. According to the report, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has yet to publish a framework setting out how progress will be calculated.

NIEL estimates that areas currently counting towards the target may amount to as little as 0.38 percent of land and freshwater and 2.2 percent of marine areas, and says existing protected areas will not be enough with the deadline four years away.

The report calls for clearer frameworks, precise action plans and better monitoring, a meeting of stakeholders from different sectors with DAERA and NIEL, and a published set of criteria for which areas count, to serve as an action plan.

"Making progress towards the target remains possible, but only if the Executive act decisively," said NIEL chief executive Max Bryant. Christopher McAteer, NIEL's environmental strategy and advocacy manager, said Northern Ireland is one of the most nature-depleted places in the world, with 12 percent of species across the island of Ireland threatened with extinction.

Photo: SK53 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Source: Agriland