Andrew McMurray MLA calls for better promotion and protection of NI landscapes
South Down Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray marked Environment Week by sponsoring an all-day event at Stormont last week.
The theme for this year’s Environment Week was “Landscapes” and the important role they play in our collective sense of place and to connect people with nature.
Representatives from across the environment and heritage sector as well as local authorities and statutory bodies in Northern Ireland attended the event to celebrate our special landscapes.
Speaking at the event, the South Down MLA said: “We cannot achieve Programme for Government aims to protect the environment and support healthy lifestyles for all without thinking at a landscape level.
“Nature doesn’t respect or consider local or regional boundaries and nature recovery must be at a landscape level.
“It is my hope that this event will inspire a passion for working together to promote and protect the wonderful landscapes throughout Northern Ireland.”
As a former outdoor instructor, McMurray has a long-standing interest in ‘the great outdoors’, which he took with him to Stormont when he became an MLA earlier this year.
Mr McMurray said: “As an MLA, I am taking every opportunity to champion the environment and our beautiful and special landscapes.
“I have been lucky to meet with representatives from a number of different organisations in the sector and to learn from their experience and hear their views.
“Living in South Down, I am privileged to have two spectacular areas of outstanding natural beauty at my doorstep: the Mournes, as well as Stranford and Lecale.
“I would like to see these landscapes better managed in a way that benefits us all, while also protecting the fragile environments they contain.
“The Department of Finance looked into options for future management of the Mournes some time ago, but little has come of it, so I have followed up with the Minister on the issue and will continue to pursue it.”
