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Northern Ireland's leading environment organisations have urged Environment Minister Arlene Foster to move swiftly to implement the recommendations of the Burke report which include the creation of a new independent environment watchdog for the region.
The proposal is among thirty-one recommendations made by the Review of Environmental Governance which was conducted by Tom Burke, Professor Sharon Turner and Gordon Bell.
Their report was presented to Minister Foster yesterday for consideration and implementation.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Environmental Protection, Hilary McGrady, Northern Ireland Director of the National Trust said the report represented an exciting opportunity for the new Minister:
"Mrs Foster could leave no greater legacy to the people of Northern Ireland than to protect its most important asset, our environment. A high quality environment isn't at odds with economic vitality, rather it underpins prosperity.
If we are to improve public health, enhance our tourism offering and attract knowledge-rich inward investment, then a high quality environment is essential."
Aidan Lonergan, Northern Ireland Director of RSPB said that the opportunity was enormous but warned of the risk of inaction:
"There are many dusty shelves in Government where this report might find its resting place, never to see implementation.
A programme of far-reaching reform such as this requires adequate resourcing, the right skill-set and the commitment of senior officials. We will be pressing the Minister on these matters when we meet her next week."
Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Environment Link
The Coalition for Environmental Protection has also sought to reassure the farming community following concerns expressed by their representatives:
Speaking after the launch, John Woods, Northern Ireland Director of Friends of the Earth said the report's recommendations would improve environmental policy-making and regulation, bringing significant benefits to the agricultural community:
"Farmers are the custodians of the countryside but were plunged into crisis recently when the Nitrates Directive was implemented at short notice. Two of the report's recommendations would address problems such as this: a specialist team of environmental policy-makers within DOE, and a White Paper setting out Government's long-term environmental policy objectives.
These measures would serve as an early warning system for agriculture and industry, avoiding the difficulties caused by last-minute policy-making."
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