Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside for Northern Ireland (CNCC)

Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC) Waterman House 5-33 Hill Street Belfast Northern Ireland, BT1 2LA United Kingdom Tel. + 44 28 90543 076/050 Fax + 44 28 90543 047 secretariat-hillst@doeni.gov.uk www.cnccni.gov.uk

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Current and Future Activities

Establishment and Mission

Council Members and Staff Members

Working Style

List of Selected Publications 

Current and Future Activities

Present Priority Fields

Marine and Coastal

• Marine conservation;
• Aquaculture;
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management;
• Marine Bill.

Planning and Landscape

• National Parks;
• Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty;
• Planning Policy Statements (PPS): Sustainable Development in the Countryside (PPS14), Nature Conservation (PPS2), Renewable Energy (PPS18) and Coastal Development (PPS20);

• Landscape Character Areas

Renewables and Waste

• Windfarms;

• Biogas and Biomass Planning

• Policy Statements on renewables

Agri-environmental policy

To keep abreast of policy and other developments in agriculture which have significance, whether good or bad, for nature conservation and the countryside in Northern Ireland and to consult and inform the full Council as appropriate on these matters.

Access and amenity

• Review of Public Administration (RPA) strategic changes;

• Research on health and recreation;

• Development of access routes;

• Recreation in forest areas.

Ecosystems and designations

• Implementation of the Water Framework Directive;

• ASSIs (Areas of Special Scientific Interest) Condition Assessment;

• Northern Ireland Countryside Survey;

• Management and designation of protected areas, including National Nature Reserves, ASSIs and Local Nature Reserves;

• Species protection and wildlife legislation;

• Ancient Woodlands.

Future Priority Fields

• Strategic Environmental Assessment;
• Impact of CAP reforms in nature conservation;
• Marine Conservation;
• Access in the Countryside;
• Review of Renewable Energy.

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Background and Mission

Establishment

The CNCC was established in 1989 under the provisions of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. Its statutory role is also covered by the provisions of The Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.

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Mission

The council advises the government on many issues relating to nature conservation and the protection of the countryside such as planning and landscape issues including National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; designation of Areas of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves; protection of wildlife species and other nature conservation issues both terrestrial and marine.

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Council Members

CNCC is made up of 19 members who cover a wide range of environmental expertise and experience throughout Northern Ireland. Membership of the Council is sought through public advertisement and appointments are ratified by the Minister for the Environment. The term of appointment is for a three year period, but members might be eligible for a re-appointment subject to satisfactory service. However, members can have an option for a further period in competition with other applicants. 

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Staff Members

There are 3 Secretariat staff. The offices of the Council are located in a government building. It should be noted though that CNCC is an independent statutory advisory body.

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Work Style

Tasks of the Council

The Council's functions set out in the (above mentioned) areas of legislation can be summarised as follows:

• to advise the Department of the Environment on matters relating to nature conservation;
• to enquire into and report on matters affecting the natural beauty or amenity of any place in Northern Ireland;
• to advise the Department of the Environment on the establishment and management of national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, areas of special scientific interest and nature reserves;
• to advise the Minister on the establishment and management of Marine Nature Reserves;
• to advise the Department of the Environment on the protection of wildlife species;
• to advise on payment of grants to voluntary conservation bodies and on promotional and educational activities.

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Substructure and Working Groups

Four new working groups are currently active:

• Marine and Coastal Group The Marine and Coastal Group was established to consider the many issues of marine conservation. This is particularly relevant in view of the UK Government's proposed Marine Bill due to come before Parliament soon, and similar legislation for Northern Ireland to follow. The Group consists of 4 members, 2 co-opted members and representatives from NIEA, EPG and DARD and meets on an ad hoc basis
• Planning and Landscape Group The CNCC established a Planning and Landscape Group to consider the many important issues relating to planning policy, development control and development plans and the NIEA Protected Landscape Policy. The Group consists of 6 members, two co-opted members and representatives of NIEA and meets on an ad hoc basis.
• Renewables and Waste Group The Council established this Group to consider the issues associated with government's policy on alternative forms of energy use and the implications for the environment. Recently the group has expanded its remit to investigate the impact of waste on nature conservation and the countryside. The Group consists of 5 members and 2 co-opted members.
• Agri-environment Group The Council established this Group because of the close links of the environment with the agricultural industry and considers many of the issues associated with farming and agri-environment schemes and the impact on habitats and species. The Group consists of 6 members and an NIEA representative.
• Access and Amenity Group The Council established this Group to consider the issues associated with access and amenities which have significance for nature conservation and the countryside in Northern Ireland. Council is keen to see much wider public access in the countryside and recreational strategies developed to their full potential. We believe that these aims could provide major benefits to the physical and mental health of the population. The Group consists of 5 members, 1 co-opted member and an NIEA representative.
• Ecosystems and Designations Group The Council established this Group to consider the many issues associated with the protection and designation of Northern Ireland's areas of scientific interest relating to land and waterways, habitats and species. The Group consists of 7 members and one co-opted member and an NIEA representative.
• Strategic Environmental Advisory Group In its role of advising the Department of the Environment on matters relating to the conservation of nature and the countryside, a group was set up to examine the implementation of SEA in Northern Ireland. The Group consists of 4 members and one co-opted member.

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Type of Advice

The CNCC advice feeds to the Government mostly through the new NI Environment Agency, an Agency of the Department of the Environment, and in response to various government consultations. It may also have direct access to the Minister of the Environment through meetings and correspondence.

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Council Meetings

The main Council meets once every two months with ad hoc meetings of Council and its working groups throughout the year to deal with specific issues. Proposed dates of Council meetings for the year 2008 are: 10th/11th January, 29th February, 9th May, 17th June, 4th/5th September and 7th November. There are no dates for the ad hoc meetings since they can be arranged for any date.

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Activities in the EEAC Network

CNCC joined EEAC in 2008. It is represented on the EEAC Environmental Governance Working Group.

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List of Selected Publications

You can search for the full list of policy advice in the EEAC  Search Engine which also includes the titles in English of publications available in original language only.

The Council will from time to time issue position papers and reports and responds to consultation documents. Our current position papers are as follows: 

• Access to the Northern Ireland Countryside, Position statement (2008);
• Seventh Report, 2003-2006 (2007);
• Genetically Modified Organisms, Position statement (2005);
• Towards a Policy on Renewable Energy, Position statement (January 2005),  (under review 2008);
• The Development of Agri-Environment Policy in Northern Ireland from 2006, Position statement (September 2004).

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