Northern Ireland’s first Blue Carbon Action Plan launched

Northern Ireland must take immediate action to protect its blue carbon habits, the DAERA Minister has said.

Andrew Muir MLA was speaking as he launched the region’s first Blue Carbon Action Plan at Mount Stewart in Co. Down.

The plan, which contains 22 action points, will provide the foundation for the protection of blue carbon habitats, while also providing for nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change through the absorption of carbon dioxide in the Northern Ireland inshore area.

Launching the Blue Carbon Action Plan, the Minister said action was needed in order to tackle the double crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss.

“We must protect our blue carbon habitats to maximise their ability to capture greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the effects of climate change and enhance biodiversity,” he said.

“Blue carbon habitats like saltmarsh, sea grass, kelp and mussel beds capture and store carbon as well as supporting a unique and diverse range of plant and animals. Habitats like saltmarsh provide ecosystem benefits, such as mitigating against coastal flooding and kelp forest can mitigate the impacts of storms on our coastline.”

While visiting the shores of Strangford Lough, the Minister added there is a diverse range of blue carbon habitats here.

“My Department developed this plan through working closely with a wide range of stakeholders and I am extremely grateful to our partners for the time they invested in this process,” he added.

“As we now move into the exciting implementation phase, it is even more important that these partnerships with the Department continue working in the co-delivery of the Blue Carbon Action Plan to ensure that our environment is managed in a way that tackles both the climate change and biodiversity crises.”

The Blue Carbon Action Plan can be located on the DAERA website at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/northern-ireland-blue-carbon-action-plan-2025-2030