The Nature Recovery Strategy for Northern Ireland sets out how the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will meet international and national targets on biodiversity up to 2032 and includes actions across government, business and society.
While it covers actions already in existence or present in other policies and strategies, it also has additional proposals.
The five strategic objectives of the draft strategy are:
Well protected nature and accelerated restoration
Reduction of the pressures on biodiversity
Sustainable use of biodiversity through nature-friendly policies and practice
Nature valued and mainstreamed across all of government and society
Building strong, integrated evidence and knowledge to enable action and reporting for nature
As part of the UK, Northern Ireland is committed to international goals including the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to ensure biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used by 2050.
It is also committed to the 30 by 30 target, under the Convention on Biological Diversity – that requires 30% of land and sea to be protected for nature by 2030.
The consultation document describes it as “complex and challenging” and adds that there “uncertainty remains” about what areas may qualify to contribute to the 30 by 30 target.
The consultation closes on 18 March 2026.