To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the development of a nature recovery strategy.

Mr Muir

Members will be aware that I made an oral statement to the House and launched the draft nature recovery strategy for public consultation on 20 January. The consultation will remain open for eight weeks, following which the strategy will be finalised for publication. It is extremely important that citizens from all parts of society and of all ages engage in the consultation. Nature provides us with our most basic needs, such as food, water and shelter. It helps regulate our climate and provides us with spaces in which to enjoy recreation. Unfortunately, nature is in decline not just here but across the world, which is why delivery of the strategy is one of my corporate pledges. At a local level, there is a statutory requirement under the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 for my Department to develop and regularly review a biodiversity strategy to further the conservation of biodiversity in Northern Ireland. At a global level, Northern Ireland, alongside the rest of the United Kingdom, has committed to 23 targets and four goals in the global biodiversity framework agreed at the Conference of the Parties in December 2022. Therefore, my draft nature recovery strategy proposes new actions for Northern Ireland that add to the existing framework of targets in relevant policies and strategies that are already in place. The aim is to provide bigger, better managed and more connected nature to help biodiversity recover and regenerate for generations to come.

Mr Muir

Investment in nature is critical if we are to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. In 2025, I committed £3·2 million to support nature recovery projects through the environment fund. The nature recovery challenge fund offers grants to support environmental projects to deliver in the key areas of nature recovery networks, species recovery networks and 30 by 30 projects. Nine projects are being funded that will help deliver environmental improvement. They include oak woodland restoration in Fermanagh; developing nature recovery networks in Belfast; and habitat improvements in Portmore lough. The fund will award £1·4 million in grants in this financial year, totalling over £3·2 million by 2027-28.

Mr Speaker

Mr Carroll is not in his place.