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The Ulster Wildlife Trust has urged the people of Northern Ireland to rally to the environmental cause, as the conservation charity celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson joins junior Ulster Wildlife Trust members Jude and Lucy Braden at Stormont to call on 50,000 people to do one more thing for wildlife during the conservation charity's 30th year. Picture Bill Smyth.
Stormont ministers, MLAs and leading businesses joined forces with the Ulster Wildlife Trust, one of Northern Ireland's most influential environmental organisations, to launch a 'Year of Action' marking this special milestone.
The charity is hoping to encourage at least 50,000 people, businesses and landowners to do one thing this year for local wildlife and wild places.
At a special reception held at Stormont on Thursday 11 September by the Northern Ireland Executive, the local charity and its supporters looked back with pride on 30 years of protecting and enhancing the province's wild landscapes and urban green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
However the charity also stressed that if it was to take forward its vision of 'an environment rich in wildlife, valued by everyone', local people would need to get more involved and take action to help secure a lasting future for our wildlife and wild places.
Heather Thompson, Chief Executive with the Ulster Wildlife Trust commented:
"With the increasing pressures of climate change, pollution and development on our wildlife and environment, there will certainly continue to be challenges ahead for us to face. We hope that by embracing a new approach to nature conservation which involves connecting up existing land to allow wildlife to adapt, and by building upon our pioneering work in environmental education and our reputation as an influential player, we will continue to go from strength to strength.
"There are so many opportunities for us to take our work forward, our restriction is not our ambition but our resources for taking this work on. So, during our 30th year, we are calling on individuals, families and businesses to show their support and take responsibility for the very thing that gives us all so much pleasure. Whether it be making space for nature where you live, joining up as a member, volunteering your time at a nearby nature reserve, going along to one of our wildlife events, or simply taking steps to minimise your ecological footprint, every action, no matter how big or small can make a huge difference."
As the largest local nature conservation organisation in Northern Ireland, managing 22 nature reserves covering 850 hectares of land, including peatlands, wildflower-rich grasslands and ancient woodlands, and with a membership, staff and volunteer base of over 7,000 people, the Ulster Wildlife Trust has come a long way since it was first founded in 1978 by a small group of volunteers.
The Ulster Wildlife Trust hopes that at least 50,000 actions will be taken in the next year that will make a real difference to local flora and fauna.
To support the Ulster Wildlife Trust's Year of Action campaign and find out what you can do for wildlife, visit www.ulsterwildlifetrust.org.
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Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action is registered as a company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland (No 1792) and is registered as a charity for tax purposes with the Inland Revenue