OEP Chief Scientist, Professor Robbie McDonald, said: "We welcome publication of DAERA's first Annual Progress Report (APR) on delivery of the Executive’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).
"Nature in Northern Ireland is under unsustainable pressure. We came to that conclusion with our report on the pressures and drivers impacting on biodiversity, and DAERA has said the same thing in its draft Nature Recovery Strategy just last week. Urgent action is needed, and the EIP is the driver for that action to happen."
Professor McDonald added: "The APR now published sets out what has already been achieved in a clear and transparent way. This report is a significant and welcome contribution to scrutiny and accountability and, for the first time, enables the people of Northern Ireland to see what the Executive has been doing for the environment.
“The report is nevertheless clear on the challenges ahead and is candid about delays and future plans. We welcome the recognition that the pace and scale of activity must increase, and that effective delivery of the plan, actually putting it into action, is of utmost importance now. The APR is also clear that this must involve all sectors.
"One of the OEP's core duties is to provide independent assessment of progress against the EIP, which we must do within six months of the APR being published. It is our intention to publish our assessment towards the end of June. We are confident that the assessment published today [Tuesday, January 27] is a sound basis for us to consider while we carry out our own review."
