A call has been issued for urgent action to conserve and restore wetland ecosystems in Northern Ireland.

Alliance MLA John Blair spoke out about the issue today, Thursday 02 February, which is recognised as World Wetlands Day.

World Wetlands Day is aimed at raising awareness of the critical role wetlands ecosystems play in terms of contributing to global biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, as well to economies all over the world. It's estimated that approximately 90% of the world's wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and that we are losing them three times faster than we are forests.

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Speaking about the need for urgent action, John Blair MLA said: "Wetlands are amongst the ecosystems with the highest rates of decline, loss and degradation.

"Indicators of current negative trends in global biodiversity and ecosystem functions are projected to continue in response to unsustainable production and consumption, and adverse impacts of climate change."

The South Antrim MLA also welcomed progress on peatland restoration but highlighted that NI is falling significantly behind other jurisdictions and that restoration is critically underfunded here.

"We to encourage actions to conserve and restore such an intrinsic part of our natural landscape. The stakes have never been higher," he added.

"We must wake up to the reality that nature is essential in the fight for 1.5 degrees. Yet our wetlands, grasslands, peatlands, and soils are at risk.

"It is essential we scale up ambition to protect and restore our precious natural world."