Identifying priority actions on climate change within the Natural Heritage Directorate

It is highly likely that Northern Ireland will experience changes to its climate over the next 40 years with significant consequences for local biodiversity. Expected effects include higher mean temperatures, seasonal redistribution of rainfall, increased frequency of extreme weather events and rising sea-level. These are likely to result in redistribution and changes in extent of habitats and the range and abundance of individual species. 

As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) the UK Government is committed to the conservation of indigenous biodiversity. The aim of this project is to ensure the implementation of actions within the remit of the Natural Heritage Directorate (NHD), Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Department of Environment (DOE) are necessary to deliver the biodiversity conservation obligations of NIEA under a changing climate.

Selection and designation of protected sites, site management and monitoring, research, implementation of action plans, coastal zone management and planning could all be affected and adaptation will be necessary. This 6 month review, funded by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) under the Natural Heritage Research Partnership (NHRP) aims to prioritize future actions related to climate change and identify the individual and shared responsibilities of the Natural Heritage Directorate functional units in carrying out such actions.  Specifically, the project aims to:   

1. Review the general implications of climate change for the operations of the Natural Heritage Directorate as a whole
2. Review the specific implications of climate change for the activities of the various functional units within the Natural Heritage Directorate
3. Identify priorities for future adaptive action that will be required to deliver biodiversity conservation obligations under a changing climate
4. Make recommendations on the implementation of priority actions, identifying individual and shared responsibilities of the various functional units