AONBs and Geopark’s Environment Boosted by £1.1 million Funding Investment

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) has successfully secured funding for over £1.1 million (total budget £2.3million) from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s (NIEA) Environment Fund. This funding package will enable partnerships to contribute to the coordination and facilitation of the management of the Ring of Gullion and Strangford & Lecale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); and the Strangford Lough, Murlough and Carlingford Lough Marine Protected Areas (MPA) over the next five years.

The funding package facilitates the implementation of key environmental and access outcomes across the AONBs, MPAs and the Mourne Gullion Strangford Global Geopark.

This investment is crucial to protect our designated sites, habitats and species. The ecological and climate crises are detrimentally impacting nature and people across Northern Ireland. Recent research by the Natural History Museum and the RSPB showed that Northern Ireland Ranks 12th worst in the world when it comes to biodiversity loss.

NMDDC  is committed to protecting our natural environment and the wildlife that depends on it and this investment of funding will help create step-change in how we protect and manage the natural environment. 

The funding package will deliver a wide variety of projects over the coming months and years, from Advanced Mooring Systems; to the maintenance long distance walking routes; to our popular Youth Rangers Programme and much more. For a full list of projects check our projects pages on the website.

The funding crucially also provides for three new job posts; a Volunteer Development Officer; a Marine Protected Area Officer; and a Marine and Coastal Engagement Officer.

These roles will be responsible for successfully developing a volunteer programme; managing the three MPA Management Groups; and mobilising the MPA communities, whether they be outdoor recreation users, coastal communities, or member of the aquaculture or fishing industry, to help protect, conserve and restore the important habitats and species.

Visit www.ringofgullion.org and www.strangfordlough.org, sign up for the AONB and Geopark eZine and follow the AONB social media accounts for updates on all of these projects as they progress over the coming months and years.

Visit https://newrymournedown.getgotjobs.co.uk/home in the coming months for more information on the new posts and to apply.