A Stormont division’s potential failure to safeguard designated areas for wild birds is being probed by an environmental watchdog.
The UK-wide Office of Environmental Protection is investigating the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) over attainable failures to adjust to environmental regulation in relation to as much as 16 Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
The investigation will search to find out whether or not the division did not implement suggestions of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and different public conservation our bodies in classifying and adapting SPAs to guard and preserve wild hen populations.
SPAs are legally designated websites that shield uncommon and threatened birds, similar to whooper swans, puffins, and light-bellied brent geese, and are internationally vital areas for breeding, overwintering, and migrating birds.
According to the OEP, they’ve additionally been proven to ship optimistic outcomes for wider biodiversity however the watchdog says the north’s wild hen populations proceed to say no.
Lough Beg and Lough Neagh is the area’s largest SPA, whereas others embody Rathlin Island, the Antrim Hills and Strangford Lough.
OEP chief government officer Natalie Prosser mentioned the probe into Daera coincided with related investigations in England and Wales.
“Our investigation will seek to establish whether the recommendations of previous SPA reviews, such as one that was published in 2001, have been fully implemented and if not, the reasons why,” she mentioned.
She mentioned the OEP’s investigation was in opposition to the background of suggestions from a evaluation carried out between 2015-17, which had but to be revealed.
“We do not know yet what our investigations will find, however, the implementation of reviews like these are important so SPAs can work to protect and maintain wild bird populations the way they are supposed to,” Ms Prosser mentioned.
In May final 12 months the OEP launched a probe into Daera’s recommendation on ammonia emissions, which councils relied on in making planning choices for farm expansions. In December, following authorized pre-action correspondence from the OEP, Daera deserted its earlier coverage.
Daera has been approached for remark.
