Dickson Speaks Out Against Over-Burning, Over-Draining, and Overgrazing in NI’s Uplands

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has voiced serious concerns over the increasing fragility of Northern Ireland’s uplands regions.

Mr Dickson said: “Northern Ireland is a very beautiful and scenic place to live and work, with mountainous regions giving way to a landscape full of rolling hills and valleys. However, the uplands are at increasing risk from exploitation and climate change.

“The central problem is that for too long we have failed to prioritise care for the environment over serving ourselves by exploiting our natural resources. Time after time, we have attempted to increase productivity in the uplands through harmful farming and forestry practices, which have had a devastating impact on habitats and local ecosystems.

“We have fallen in to a vicious cycle of over-burning, over-draining, and overgrazing our land. This must stop.

“The uplands are home to a huge array of wildlife, including animals more common to the lowlands who have been displaced over years of industrialisation. In destroying these habitats, we are endangering dozens of species vital to the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

“It is vital that people also recognise the importance of the uplands in their normal day to day lives. For example, in making sure we have enough water to drink, in helping to reduce the risk of flooding, and in combating the devastating effects of climate change with peatlands acting as natural carbon stores.

“The uplands are a place of work, of recreation, and of course a home to many people across society, and they deserve our protection”.

Quoting from the Alliance Green New Deal, Mr Dickson pointed out that: “Northern Ireland has about 8% tree cover, which is thought to be the lowest in Europe, and our forest coverage is around 40% lower than the UK average. Consequently, our land and forestry sector is a net carbon source rather than a net sink.

“As a party, we have taken a hard look at what needs to be done and have developed a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issues Northern Ireland faces. We need to step back from the brink of environmental ruin and focus on the huge opportunities green initiatives have to offer”.

The Alliance Green New Deal proposes to:

• Deliver an ambitious afforestation programme of native woodland species to increase Northern Ireland tree cover and achieve the current target of 12% cover by 2050 (approx. 2,000 hectares of trees a year) by a mixture of traditional forestry, agroforestry, orchards and amenity planting.

• Increase cross-border cooperation on the protection of the natural environment through the independent Environmental Protection Agency.

• Establish an effective future land management scheme to provide landowners with resources and tools to improve the natural environment.

• Set new ambitious, legally binding targets to protect our natural environment and drive the restoration of species and habitats.

• Establish alignment with international efforts and environmental cooperation, particularly on actions to tackle illegal and unsustainable trade in timber, wildlife, ivory, and fish.

• Make Northern Ireland supply chains deforestation-free by 2023, including requiring NI businesses to demonstrate complete transparency to ensure consumers no longer contribute to the destruction of vast swaths of forested land overseas.

• Ensure our protected areas on land and sea are managed effectively, moving towards creating a low carbon economy.

• Deliver a Peatland Conservation Programme, a strategic plan to support the climate mitigation plans through peatland and carbon stores conservation, restoration and improved management.

• Promote biodiversity initiatives across primary, post-primary and third-level sectors, and ensure that schools, colleges, and universities across the country play an active role in providing areas to promote biodiversity, including funding biodiversity degrees.

• Encourage a greater connection to nature through community engagement, including greater participation and encouragement of eco-schools and nature-focused community events.

• Create training opportunities and jobs for qualified vocational forest school’s programmes and create additional woodland areas in our educational infrastructure so that all children have the opportunity to learn through an outdoor resource.

• Establishing more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and supporting their management through increased resources and regulations to reduce overfishing, marine pollution and ocean acidification.

• Supporting the urgent ban of industrial fishing vessels such as super trawlers from operating in UK MPAs.