Environment Minister Mark H Durkan today announced that Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership will benefit from funding from the DOE’s Natural Environment Fund (NEF).
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council will receive £60,000 from the NEF to administer the funding.
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The Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership has played a key role in the development of local tourism, recreatiion and environmental improvements around Stranford Lough and the Lecale area.[/caption]The £1.25million NEF fund will enable NGO’s and landscape management bodies to help protect our landscape, species and access to the countryside.
Given the acute economic situation that Minister Durkan faced, there was no money in the DOE budget for this sector.
Minister Durkan was, however, able to set up the NEF from receipts from the Carrier Bag Levy.
Mark H Durkan said: “There is no doubt that these are tough economic times. As a result I was faced with the situation of wanting to help this sector, especially given the sterling work they do for our countryside and species, but having no money in the kitty to do so. Against this backdrop and through imaginative use of receipts from the Carrier Bag levy, I created the NEF.
“Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is one of 21 NGO’s and landscape management bodies who will benefit. I commend them for their work to date and I look forward to their continuing work for Strangford Lough and the Lecale district.
“The NGO’s and landscape management bodies have been very much part of the process of establishing the NEF. Last month I set up a workshop with NGO’s to get feedback from them on how we could maximise the fund.
“My officials will organise further workshops with key natural and built heritage partners in the summer and autumn to discuss how to we can all continue to deliver against key environmental outcomes which will include protecting our landscapes, habitats and species and providing those opportunities for each of us to explore, enjoy and cherish our environment in the North.”
Other recipients in the recent awards were the Mourne Heritage Trust who received £149,000 for environmental enhancement in the Mourne AONB and Newry Mourne and Down District Council towards the Ring of Gullion received £49,000 for AONB advancement.
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