7 July 2000

SAM FOSTER LAUNCHES 'GREEN SHOOTS' ACTION PLAN

During a visit today to the Northern Ireland Game Fair, Minister for the Environment, Sam Foster, launched 'Green Shoots', a new publication from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). Green Shoots is an action plan and an ambitious attempt to recognise and build upon the shooting community's contribution to wildlife and biodiversity.

The Minister said: "I would like to pay tribute to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation for their initiative in publishing Green Shoots. This is a timely and pro-active document addressing issues of biodiversity in the United Kingdom.

"On behalf of my Department, through the Environment and Heritage Service, I am particularly pleased to be able to endorse the continuing long association with BASC in Northern Ireland, which was formalised in the Joint Statement of Intent signed in 1998."

The Minister concluded: "Milestones in this partnership have been marked by such events as the Management Agreement on Lough Foyle and the recent designation of the National Nature Reserve at Lough Beg, the shooting rights of which were acquired by BASC with grant-aid from EHS. By working together on initiatives such as these, we can help to maintain a countryside that everyone can benefit from."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) is the United Kingdom's representative body for sporting shooting. Its130,000 members are served by a staff of 60 based at BASC Headquarters and in its six Regional Centres, including Northern Ireland.
• These resources are strengthened by an extensive network of honorary representatives and volunteers. The BASC works to set and promote the highest standards of sportsmanship, safety and courtesy within the shooting community as well as to promote the sportsman's contribution to game and wildlife conservation.
• EHS and its predecessors have had a long and cordial working relationship with BASC and signed a Joint Statement of Common Interest and Intent two years ago.
• BASC has 200 affiliated organisations and 6,500 individual members in NI.
• EHS has given grant-aid to some of these groups in order to encourage their work in habitat conservation.
• The Wildlife Habitat Trust, the landowning arm of BASC was grant-aided by EHS to purchase 150 hectares of shooting rights in the newly designated National Nature Reserve at Lough Beg, a substantial part of which it was agreed would be a no-shooting refuge.