Public bodies are obliged to conserve biodiversity and improve the natural environment within Northern Ireland. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is currently developing proposals, including policies and targets, to this end. An effective monitoring framework and coherent indicator(s) are necessary to understand whether Northern Ireland is on track to achieving these commitments. The development and use of biodiversity indicators can be challenging. However, they provide a basis for evaluating and communicating progress towards targets, and the policies underpinning conservation measures.
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) is responsible for monitoring DAERA’s progress towards delivering improvement in the natural environment. In the absence of an existing environmental improvement plan (EIP), the OEP is assessing the drivers and pressures affecting terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity in Northern Ireland. To support this work, the OEP commissioned the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) to evaluate the approaches to assessing and monitoring the status of species, and explore potential metrics to track biodiversity change in Northern Ireland. This report synthesises research and stakeholder engagement undertaken by UKCEH to provide this evidence baseline assessment.
Using an invited written consultation exercise and stakeholder workshop biodiversity metrics, monitoring, and data in Northern Ireland were explored. There is a preference amongst stakeholders to utilise a suite of indicators that reflect the state of biodiversity, the drivers and pressures impacting biodiversity; and highlight the benefits of biodiversity to people. A key set of properties for such indicator(s) emerged. These were for any indicator to be: representative; responsive; meaningful and understandable; multi-sectoral; repeatable and comparable; robust; sufficiently resourced; and flexible. There are many existing monitoring schemes and data sources that could contribute to these biodiversity indicator(s) for Northern Ireland. This includes data sources that already contribute to national indices, and fulfil many of the seven properties identified for indicators.
There is an urgent need to establish targets, indicator(s) and a monitoring framework for biodiversity in Northern Ireland, accompanied by a resourced delivery plan. The development of which need to be explicitly linked to avoid any disconnect and gaps in evidence. The first step in establishing an indicator and monitoring framework is to explicitly state the objectives and develop achievable targets with an associated timeframe. These should be coherent targets, mirroring national and international obligations, rather than working towards alternative objectives. Following this, a (set of) biodiversity indicator(s) should be developed, peer reviewed, and published. These should be used to track progress towards the targets and should fulfil the properties identified. The monitoring data that underpins any indicators should be woven into the framework, and long-term agreements established with data providers. Efforts should also be made to fill any existing gaps in monitoring. However, a flexible composite approach to monitoring, which starts with what is available and is built on over time as more data becomes available
could be adopted, which would remove any barriers to embarking on the process.
The establishment of a monitoring and target setting framework in Northern Ireland could be achieved within 2 years. This is an ambitious timeframe, but there is a growing body of existing data, information and biodiversity indicators upon which to build. The process does therefore not start from scratch, it should build on the existing knowledge. To achieve a target setting framework, establish indicators and an associated monitoring programme within a tight timeframe will require excellent planning and making clear requests of other departments and contractors when necessary. With good planning, strong leadership and communication across all relevant parties, the establishment of a monitoring and target setting framework for biodiversity in Northern Ireland could be achieved in 2 years.