Minister announces £300,000 funding boost for environmental and conservation groups

Environment Minister Edwin Poots announced today that he is to make an additional £0.3milion in funding available to environment and conservation groups.

A proportion of the additional money will be offered to some of the current applicants to the NIEA Natural Heritage Grant Programme, while some will be made available to those applying for funding next year.

The Minister said: “I greatly value the contribution made by environmental organisations to protecting our countryside and wildlife. In particular, they engage people in caring for and enjoying their local environment. I have decided to direct £300,000 in unspent swine flu funds to the Agency’s Natural Heritage Grant Programme."

NIEA today notified nine organisations that they will receive additional funding next year. Those that will benefit include the Belfast Hills Partnership, Mourne Heritage Trust and RSPB.

The Minister met the Belfast Hills Partnership to hear about their work.

Dr Jim Bradley, Manager for the Belfast Hills Partnership said: "The additional funding for next year will give us just the opportunity we need to continue the majority of our current work, while making the most of some exciting opportunities to secure other long term funding to enhance the Belfast Hills.”

James Robinson, Director of the RSPB said: “This is good news. I am relieved that there will now be more funding available to continue to support part of our environmental education work to enthuse young people in our natural environment.”

The Minister added: “While I am happy to make additional money available which will assist environmental groups next year, it should be remembered that the demands for funding are ever increasing. NIEA cannot therefore commit to maintaining levels of funding at today’s levels. The Agency will continue to make funding decisions based on its priorities which will be clearly communicated to applicants. Councils and environmental Non-Government Organisations are encouraged to consider alternative ways of delivering and funding projects in the future, collaborating where appropriate.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Natural Heritage Grants Programme delivers grant aid to support non government conservation organisations, councils and others to conserve our natural heritage. The budget for next year is £2.5million. This support enables others to contribute to delivery of agency objectives for the natural environment and brings added value through the contribution of other funders and volunteer effort.
2. The organisations that have been awarded additional funding next year are Belfast Hills Partnership, Copeland Bird Observatory, Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland, Lagan Valley Regional Park, Mourne Heritage Trust, National Trust, Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB), Strangford Lough Management Advisory Committee and the Ulster Wildlife Trust.
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