Habitats Regulations Report underscores need for urgent action to restore nature in Northern Ireland
Species of animals and birds in Northern Ireland are under pressure and we all need to play our part in helping to protect them.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has, for the first time, published a comprehensive statutory report on Northern Ireland’s implementation of the Habitats Regulations for protected habitats and species.
The report which covers the period 2019-2024 underscores the urgent need for decisive action to restore nature.
The report provides greater clarity on what Northern Ireland has achieved in terms of nature conservation and importantly helps identify what the next steps should be to restore the natural environment.
Accompanying the General Implementation Report are the Conservation Status results for each of the most protected habitats and species in Northern Ireland.
The vast majority of habitats are in ‘Unfavourable-Bad’ Conservation Status. In terms of species, approximately a third are in ‘Favourable’ Conservation Status.
Commenting on the results, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “This report makes for sobering reading, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing our habitats and species.
“For those who still don’t recognise the urgency of the biodiversity crisis, this should serve as an important wake up call.
“Whilst the bar is set high for achieving Favourable Conservation Status, it is clear that our habitats and species are suffering from decades of neglect and over the reporting period (2019-2024) limited progress was made to shift the dial on biodiversity decline.
“We know what many of the solutions are to turn this situation around, and I take hope from the inspiring examples of nature recovery being delivered in Northern Ireland.
“However, this work needs to be replicated at scale with sustained support, investment and commitment from across government.
“The launch of the draft Nature Recovery Strategy for consultation is a significant step in taking forward the necessary actions to conserve, protect and restore our precious natural environment.
“I am determined to ensure that by the end of the next reporting period we have a better story to tell. With evidence-based strategy, policy and action on the ground, we can deliver nature recovery at scale and meet our 30 by 30 target as set out in our Programme for Government.”
A report on the Status and Trends of Birds also shows mixed results, with some birds in decline and some improving.
This cycle of reporting highlights that the most significant pressures weighing on the natural environment relate mainly to agricultural related practices and climate change.
The Northern Ireland Environmental Improvement Plan provides the framework to enable nature recovery.
Several new strategies, plans and schemes are also well advanced and will make a meaningful difference to conservation efforts in Northern Ireland.
These include:
• the Draft Climate Action Plan,
• the Draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan,
• the Draft Nature Recovery Strategy for Northern Ireland,
• the Proposed Ammonia Strategy for Northern Ireland
• and the Farming with Nature Scheme.
For the marine environment, strategies include:
• the Northern Ireland Blue Carbon Action Plan 2025-2030,
• the Marine Protected Areas Strategy for the Northern Ireland Inshore Region 2025-2030
• and the draft Seabird and Elasmobranch Conservation Strategies.
On 30 January 2026, DAERA published for the first time a comprehensive Northern Ireland General Implementation Report which sets out the main achievements under the Habitats Regulations in Northern Ireland in relation to nature conservation and implementation of the Regulations.
In previous reporting cycles, prior to EU Exit, this requirement was carried out at a UK level
The 2019-2024 Habitats Regulations Reports for Northern Ireland are available at:
www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/habitats-regulations
