‘Nature Positive Northern Ireland’ campaign launched ahead of next month’s UN Biodiversity Summit in Montreal.
RSPB NI launch Nature Positive campaign in Banana Block
Northern Ireland is ranked 12th worse worldwide for biodiversity loss. From the towering Mourne Mountains to the cascading Causeway Coast and low-lying lands of Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland’s environment is diverse and iconic, but it needs protecting and restoring more than ever.
To start the evening, as attendees gathered, a range of stalls running interactive activities engaged with the public about the campaign. From nature friendly farming to tree planting and RSPB Youth Campaigner stalls, the audience became instantly aware of RSPB NI’s aims and ambitions for a #NaturePositiveNI.
The Nature Positive NI launch hosted a variety of exciting speakers. Director of RSPB NI, Joanne Sherwood opened up the stage, explaining the importance of a Nature Positive NI and what the campaign intends to achieve. “The campaign seeks to kick start a decade of action, leading to a nature filled Northern Ireland. A future in which society, businesses, and political leaders no longer tolerate the decline of nature. Where nature’s restoration is well resourced, pollution is curtailed, where the public are inspired to care about our iconic local environment. And where our land and seas are buoyed by connected and thriving species and habitats. The last Biodiversity Strategy failed to deliver this. We must not let that happen again. We must do better. We must ensure that the biodiversity strategy currently in development delivers for present and future generations.”
Megan McCubbin, Zoologist and BBC Springwatch presenter then gave an inspiring and personal keynote speech.
Touching on her own experiences in nature and the biodiversity across Northern Ireland, she highlighted how every one of us who cares for nature, no matter where we come from or what do, is an activist. Touching upon ‘baseline syndrome,’ Megan showcased the brutal reality of species loss while providing a message of hope on what can be done if we act now. “There’s something called shifting baseline syndrome which means each generation is getting accustomed the state of nature as it is. We weren’t alive 50 or so years ago to really understand what we’ve now lost. It’s a dangerous thing, because if I hadn’t listened to the stories my nan tells me of the red squirrels in Norfolk or the fact my grandad had nightingales in his garden I wouldn’t be able to visualise what that was like, and I would accept todays standard as it is, and we simply cannot do that.”
But why Nature Positive and why now?
This December, global leaders will meet (in Montreal) as part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) to agree on a new global plan for nature, at the heart of which, will be the aim of halting and beginning to reverse the decline of nature by 2030. The UK will sign up to this new global plan, but each of the devolved nations will be responsible for realising these commitments. This means that a functioning Northern Ireland Executive, with leadership from DAERA, must develop and implement a plan for creating a Nature Positive Northern Ireland through the development of a local Biodiversity Strategy.
With 11% of species at risk of extinction from the island of Ireland, as shown in RSPB's recently launched Decade of Action Report, urgent action must be taken locally. This message was highlighted by Dara McAnulty via an inspiring short film he made with RSPB in his home country, Northern Ireland. You can watch the short film here.
A dynamic panel discussion focusing in on what can be done to create a Nature Positive NI followed.
This included; John Martin, Head of Policy and Advocacy at RSPB NI as Chair, Conor McKinney, local broadcaster and conservationist, Megan McCubbin zoologist and presenter, Brian Smyth, councillor for the Green Party, William Irvine, Deputy president of the Ulster Farmers Union and Edwin Poots, DUP MLA and previous Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs Minister.
Using some recently RSPB NI commissioned poll results, John asked the panel three questions.
The first question asked, “Does the panel agree that Northern Ireland should continue to have strong laws to protect and restore nature?”
Most of the speakers overwhelming agreed that they do. Megan emphasised the urgent need for strong laws, stating how biodiversity is currently being lost at an unprecedented rate, and while Edwin Poots mostly agreed, he stated that any new legislation must also work for farmers. Edwin thought some current targets were actually too ambitious and not realistic, but Conor intervened stating that a Nature Positive NI by 2030 was not a need but a must. Highlighting the importance of targets in law for nature, Conor gave a personal insight by telling a story of first-hand species loss, highlighting the disappearance of a cuckoo’s call beside the road he grew up. A member of the audience asked a follow up question concerning protected sites and asked why one he’d visited recently had run off flowing into the nearby sea, highlighting that while some areas are protected, they perhaps aren’t regulated.
The second question asked, “Does the panel agree that farmers should be incentivised to do more to protect nature and reduce emissions?”
William shared how over 70% of land area in Northern Ireland is used for agriculture, so farmers will have to play a vital role in managing the landscape if we want to halt and reverse nature’s decline. William then went on to point out that farmers are already doing some great work, but for everyone to play their part, there would need more financial and educational support. Joanne picked up on this point stating how all sectors must come together for change to take place, farmers, conservationists, government and consumers alike.
The third question asked, “What measures do we need to take to ensure that renewable energy onshore and offshore do not adversely impact species?”
William highlighted how land use must synergistically address the need for agricultural and energy outputs to be shared in a nature positive way, in a way that doesn’t disregard nature. Brian then stated that the council has a huge role to play, not only in funding and implementing these technologies, but also informing the wider public. He shared how getting citizens onboard and educating the wider population about what they can do for nature locally, is one of the biggest actions those can take for a Nature Positive Northern Ireland.
Finishing up the panel discussion, John asked the speakers "what a Nature Positive Northern Ireland means to them," of which each speaker had varying thoughts, but all saw it as one where biodiversity and people could prosper.
Judith Annette MBA, RSPB Trustee, rounded off the evening by reiterating RSPB NI’s asks, calling for an ambitious biodiversity strategy in the new year and asking all who came to come together to take local action for nature. After an event that enticed people from all ages, backgrounds and beliefs, Judith highlighted the need for smaller steps to be taken collectively, as showcased in RSPB NI’s ‘5 Steps to a Nature Positive NI’ leaflet, which provides an array of actions that citizens can take which also create a direct, positive impact for nature.
Handing out trees as goody bags, Belfast City Council offered out some native Irish saplings that all 200+ attendees could plant locally, bringing home the message that nature is in crisis, but together we can save it.
Pictured; Ruby Free, Campaigns Communications Officer, John Martin Head of Policy and Advocacy, Edwin Poots MLA for DUP, Judith Annette MBA and RSPB Trustee, Megan McCubbin, Zoologist and Presenter, Joanne Sherwood, Director RSPB NI, Conor McKinney, Conservationist and Broadcaster, Brian Smyth, Green Part Councillor, William Irvine, Deputy President UFU.
Thanks to all our incredible speakers on the night and to everyone who came, now the real work starts for a #NaturePosiiveNI…
To hear more about our Nature Positive NI campaign, click here
To get involved and find out more about campaigning with RSPB NI, click here
If you have any questions about campaigning with RSPB or would like to find out more, email campaigns.ni@rspb.org.uk