30 October 2000

SAM FOSTER ENSURES BETTER PROTECTION FOR NORTHERN IRELAND'S WOODS, BOGS AND RIVERS

Mr Sam Foster MLA, Minister of the Environment, announced today an important further step in the conservation of Northern Ireland's most important wildlife sites.

The Minister has confirmed that seventeen additional sites in Northern Ireland will be submitted to the European Commission as candidate Special Areas of Conservation.

These contain some of our best woodland, for example Breen in Antrim, Banagher Glen in Londonderry and Rostrevor in County Down. Significantly two rivers have been proposed for the first time, the Cladagh in Fermanagh and Upper Ballinderry in Tyrone, for their populations of freshwater pearl mussel. A significant number of raised bogs are also included.

This now means that thirty eight sites have been put forward to the EC as the major part of Northern Ireland's contribution to the Europe-wide network of conservation sites known as Natura 2000.

Mr Foster said: "Northern Ireland was once covered with huge areas of natural woodland, but now this habitat is reduced to a few small fragments. These remaining woods are beautiful places, abundant with wild flowers in springtime, and vitally important for the survival of many forms of wildlife. They are very different from the coniferous plantations of more recent origin. In looking after the best of what remains, we will be making an important contribution to conservation in Europe.

"Our rivers, peat bogs and other habitats also have their own special qualities. I am satisfied that the sites we have selected are among the most important in Northern Ireland for wildlife. By putting them forward as Special Areas of Conservation we are accepting the responsibility to conserve and protect them from damaging activities."

Consultation on a small number of additional sites is proceeding.

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

• The EC Habitats Directive requires member states to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect some of the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. Once accepted by the Commission, SACs contribute towards a European network of sites of major importance known as Natura 2000.
• By June 1999 the UK had submitted a list of 340 candidate SACs to the EC. Twenty-one of these sites are in Northern Ireland. Along with those of most other member states, the UK list was criticised for its insufficient coverage of a number of habitats and species listed in the Directive.
• As part of a UK response, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Sam Foster, announced proposals for an additional 22 SACs in Northern Ireland plus additional qualifying features at many of the sites already submitted to Brussels. Most of the sites involved have already been declared Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs).
• These proposals have been the subject of consultation with a wide range of interests. Landowners within ASSIs affected by the SAC proposals have been notified and informed about the implications of the Directive.
• The revised UK list will be considered alongside those submitted by other member states by the Commission during 2001.

1. Candidate SACs previously submitted to the European Commission for consideration. No amendment required

No	Name of SAC	County	Component ASSIs where applicable
1	Ballynahone Bog	Londonderry
2	Black Bog	Tyrone
3	Fairy Water Bogs	Tyrone
4	Garry Bog	Antrim
5	Teal Lough	Londonderry & Tyrone
6	Largalinny	Fermanagh
7	Fardrum & Roosky Turloughs	Fermanagh

2. Candidate SACs previously submitted to the European Commission for consideration, for which additional qualifying features have been identified, but no amendment to the boundary is required.

No	Name of SAC	County	Component ASSIs where appropriate
8	Cuilcagh Mountain	Fermanagh
9	Derryleckagh	Down
10	Eastern Mournes	Down
11	Garron Plateau	Antrim
12	Magilligan	Londonderry
13	Monawilkin	Fermanagh
14	Pettigoe Plateau	Fermanagh
15	Rathlin Island	Antrim
16	Slieve Beagh	Fermanagh Tyrone
17	Strangford Lough	Down	Strangford Lough Part 1 Strangford Lough Part 2 Strangford Lough Part 3 Killard Ballyquintin Point Strangford Lough MNR
18	Upper Lough Erne	Fermanagh	Upper Lough Erne - Belleisle Upper Lough Erne - Crom Upper Lough Erne - Galloon Upper Lough Erne - Trannish Corraslough Point Dernish Island Inishroosk Killymackan Lough Mill lough

 

3. Candidate SACs previously submitted to the European Commission for consideration, for which additional qualifying features have been identified and an amendment to the boundary is required.

No	Name of SAC	County	Component ASSIs where appropriate
19	Lough Melvin	Fermanagh	Lough Melvin Garvros
20	Magheraveely Marl Loughs	Fermanagh	Burdautien Lough Kilroosky Lough Knockballymore Lough Annachullion Lough Drumacrittin Lough Summerhill Lough
21	Murlough	Down

 

4. Additional SACs due to be submitted to the European Commission for consideration in October 2000.

No	Name of SAC	County	Component ASSIs where appropriate
22	Banagher Glen	Londonderry
23	Breen Wood	Antrim
24	Carn/Glenshane Pass	Londonderry
25	Cladagh (Swanlinbar) River	Fermanagh
26	Hollymount	Down
27	Lecale Fens	Down	Loughkeelan Ballycam Carrowcarlin Corbally
28	Main Valley Bogs	Antrim	Dunloy Bog Caldanagh Bog Frosses Bog
29	Moneygal Bog	Tyrone	Moneygal Bog Moneygal Bog Pt 2
30	Moninea Bog	Fermanagh
31	Montiaghs Moss	Antrim
32	North Antrim Coast	Antrim	Giant's Causeway & Dunseverick White Park Bay
33	Rea's Wood & Farr's Bay	Antrim
34	Rostrevor Wood	Down
35	Slieve Gullion	Armagh
36	Turmennan	Down
37	Wolf Island Bog	Londonderry
38	Upper Ballinderry River	Tyrone

 

 

• Further information is available from Mr Brian McCullough, Environment and Heritage Service, Commonwealth House, 35, Castle Street, Belfast BT1 1GU (tel: 028 9054 6591).