The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister, Andrew Muir, has emphasised the importance of collective action in preserving and enhancing Northern Ireland's natural landscapes.

Speaking at the 'Enriched Landscapes Enriched Lives' event in Belfast, Minister Muir commended the work of Landscapes NI, a newly revitalised network of 16 organisations dedicated to safeguarding the region's natural environment. The event marked the launch of the NI Landscapes Manifesto, which outlines a vision for protecting and promoting Northern Ireland's unique landscapes.

Minister Muir highlighted the diverse benefits that landscapes provide to communities, including recreational opportunities, biodiversity conservation, and economic contributions. He encouraged professionals in landscape protection and management to collaborate and share best practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of these valuable assets.

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Landscapes NI represents a united front of organisations working to balance the needs of nature and people in Northern Ireland's landscape. Their efforts are crucial in preserving the region's natural beauty and heritage for future generations.

Welcoming the launch of the Manifesto, Minister Muir said: "Northern Ireland has an incredible array of amazing landscapes and seascapes. They are not only places of outstanding beauty they are also where we live, work and play, they provide a home for diverse nature and wildlife, and they support livelihoods through agriculture and tourism.

"We need to reduce the harm caused to those landscapes and ensure that they are resilient to the risks of climate change. It is our responsibility to protect these natural treasures for future generations.

"The Landscapes NI manifesto has clear links to the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) that was agreed by the Executive and published last month.

"The EIP commits to developing a landscape Action Plan by December 2025, completing a landscape and policy review, and then, publishing a landscape strategy by March 2027.

"This will help us to create healthy and accessible landscapes everyone can connect with and enjoy."