Lough Neagh Basin Lough Neagh Basin An amazing place for people Our work so far and for wildlife Lough Beg is the focus of one of our Lough Neagh, the largest fresh water landscape-scale projects within the Lough lake in the UK and Ireland, lies at the very Neagh Basin. The wetlands around this heart of Northern Ireland. The wildlife-rich beautiful area provide some of the best wetlands surrounding the Lough are wildlife habitats in Northern Ireland and it internationally renowned, and nationally is here that local farmers and landowners important for birds and other wildlife. are carrying out one of the largest wet They support large numbers of wildfowl, grassland restoration programmes in including whooper swans, pochards, the country. tufted ducks, scaups and goldeneyes. The wetland habitats within the basin The work here is centred on a perform vital functions for humans too, 500-hectare area of habitat along the providing food, clean water, flood defence, west and south shores of the Lough, Golden plover recreational activities, cultural heritage which supports vital numbers of breeding and carbon capture and storage. redshanks, snipe, curlews and lapwings. We are working together with the Lough Neagh drains 40% of the land area Northern Ireland Environment Agency Peatlands in of Northern Ireland, but the health of the (NIEA), Rivers Agency and landowners decline Lough and surrounding habitats is under across this project area to manage water pressure from drainage, unsustainable levels in a way that benefits farming Peatlands are nationally and land-use practices and climate change. through high-quality food production, and internationally important, providing This not only threatens wildlife, but also wildlife through the provision of better habitat for wildlife, clean water and affects the natural resources upon which wetland habitat. This work will also result carbon capture and storage. But this we all depend. We need to take a in restored wetlands that filter and retain vital natural resource is at threat. landscape-scale approach to ensure the water, helping to manage flood risk, and Many of our peatlands have been sustainable management of land, in capture and store carbon. exploited and degraded, resulting in balance with the needs of both people and reduced capacity for carbon storage, wildlife, now and into the future. This is In the Antrim Hills, to the north of Lough and declines in species such as the why the Lough Neagh Basin is part of the Neagh, we are also working with Northern hen harrier, golden plover and marsh RSPB’s Futurescapes programme. Ireland Water and NIEA to restore blanket saxifrage. Damaged peatlands are bog within the Garron Plateau Area of less resilient to the impacts of climate By working together with other Special Scientific Interest (ASSI). Garron change, so it is crucial that we take stakeholders and communities to is one of the largest expanses of intact steps now to halt and reverse the reconnect people with nature; protect blanket bog in the UK and Ireland, but it damage that has been done. By water bodies, together with surrounding has been degraded by overgrazing and working in partnership and reducing swamp, fen, wet grassland and swampy drainage. By reducing grazing pressure grazing pressures, blocking drains, woodland; and return designated sites and blocking drains, we will restore the removing trees and restoring the to their full potential, we can conserve ASSI, secure habitat for wildlife, improve hydrology of peat soils, we can return the special nature of the Lough and its water quality and maximise the bog’s our peatlands to their former glory. precious spaces for generations to come. potential as a vital carbon store. FS_Advocacy_LoughNeagh_to print.indd 1 19/11/2013 09:46 Coleraine Ballymoney Ballymena Maghera NORTHERN IRELAND Toome Magherafelt Randalstown Ballyclare Antrim Newtownabbey Lough Neagh Basin Cookstown Belfast Coalisland Lough Neagh is one of “ Dungannon the most important Lisburn environmental resources in Craigavon Lurgan Europe, let alone the UK, Portadown and its flora, fauna and Produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787 diverse supply of resources, Armagh such as fish, gravel and Banbridge recreational activities must be wisely managed by all of us together.” KEY Danny Kinahan, main road MLA for South Antrim Futurescape area What’s next? Get in touch Habitats and species data have helped us to identify a We want to hear your ideas about how we can work number of priority sites for future landscape-scale together to make the Lough Neagh Basin even better for conservation within the Lough Neagh Basin. Using Lough people and wildlife. Beg and Garron Plateau as demonstration sites, we are working with our partners to develop projects in these areas Futurescapes Project Officer Country Director in order to produce a suite of well-connected, quality habitats Sheila George James Robinson for wildlife, providing a range of natural resources and T 02890 690851 T 02890 491547 supporting sustainable livelihoods. We will also continue to advocate the value of these landscapes, at both delivery and Futurescapes Community RSPB Northern Ireland policy level, to ensure their protection into the future. Engagement Officer Headquarters Maeve Rafferty Belvoir Park Forest, T 02890 491547 Belvoir Drive, Belfast BT8 7QT T 02890 491547 The Lough Neagh Basin Futurescapes project is kindly Futurescapes is generously The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International, a supported by: supported by the EU Life+ partnership of conservation organisations working Communications Programme to give nature a home around the world Futurescapes is the RSPB’s contribution to landscape-scale conservation throughout the UK. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654. Images: golden plover by Guy Rodgers (rspb-images.com) and Lough Neagh Basin by Radharc Images (Alamy.com). Maps produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787. 020-1-1243-13-14 FS_Advocacy_LoughNeagh_to print.indd 2 19/11/2013 09:46.