The Office for Environmental Protection has launched an investigation into the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)’s management of Northern Ireland’s protected sites for nature.
Helen Venn, Chief Regulatory Officer for the OEP, said: “Protected sites for nature include places of historic and cultural significance, and they are also one of the most important tools for restoring nature. Despite their importance, many sites remain in unfavourable condition and continue to face significant pressures, including nutrient pollution.
“Our investigation will look into whether this is due to serious failures to comply with the environmental laws in place to ensure that such sites achieve good condition.”
The investigation will cover Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs). SACs include sites such as Eastern Mournes, Lough Melvin, the Cuilcagh mountains and the Magheraveely Marl Loughs, and ASSIs include sites such as Lough Neagh, the Antrim Hills, Belfast Lough, Lough Foyle, and the Copeland islands.
The OEP has previously carried out an in-depth review of the implementation of laws relating to these protected sites. When it reported on its findings in April 2025 it called for urgent action to be taken to better protect and restore them.
DAERA has responded positively to the OEP’s report and committed to actions to address issues raised. However, there is significant uncertainty about the implementation of those actions and whether they will result in compliance with the law to deliver the intended conservation outcomes.
The investigation will therefore aim to determine whether DAERA is complying with its obligations to designate, manage, monitor and adapt the protected sites network in a manner capable of achieving site conservation objectives and contributing to favourable conservation status for protected habitats and species.
It will also consider whether pressures on protected sites, particularly from nutrient pollution, are being addressed through measures that are adequately designed, implemented and evaluated to support the achievement of protected site objectives.
If the investigation finds there has been non-compliance with environmental law the OEP will seek to ensure that effective management plans and measures to reduce pressures on sites are in place for SACs, reasonable steps are being taken to further the conservation and enhancement of ASSIs, and suitable plans are in place for further designations of both categories of site.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The OEP's NI protected sites report, published in April 2025, can be found here: Review of implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in Northern Ireland | Office for Environmental Protection
The investigation launched now is being carried out under paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 of the Environment Act 2021.
It will consider six grounds of possible failure to comply with environmental law:
- failure to establish necessary conservation measures for, and prevent deterioration of, SACs (Reg. 3 NI Habitats Regulations duty to secure compliance with the Habitats Directive, including Article 6(1) and 6(2), and Reg 8C NI Habitats Regulations)
- failure to adequately monitor the condition of SACs (Reg. 3 NI Habitats Regulations duty to secure compliance with the Habitats Directive, including Article 6(1) and 6(2), and 9A NI Habitats Regulations)
- failure to take reasonable steps to further the conservation and enhancement of ASSIs (Art. 38 the Environment Order)
- failure to review and adapt the SAC network (Reg. 6 and 8C NI Habitats Regulations)
- failure to designate sites as ASSIs (Art. 28 the Environment Order)
- failure to undertake a review of consents (Reg. 45 NI Habitats Regulations)
