Northern Ireland Launches Consultation on Nature Recovery Strategy

What is the Nature Recovery Strategy?

The draft Nature Recovery Strategy is DAERA’s legally required biodiversity strategy for Northern Ireland, setting out how it intends to meet international and national nature goals. It brings together existing and new actions to protect, restore, and enhance the natural environment, aligned to 2032 so it can sit alongside future Climate Action Plans.

The consultation seeks views on five strategic objectives:

• Well protected nature and accelerated restoration

• Reduction of the pressures on biodiversity

• Sustainable use of biodiversity through nature‑friendly policies and practice

• Nature valued and mainstreamed across government and society

• Strong, integrated evidence and knowledge to enable action and reporting for nature.

Why this matters for UK and NI businesses

Nature risk is now a core business issue, particularly for land‑dependent sectors such as agriculture, food and drink, tourism, construction, utilities, and infrastructure. Degraded ecosystems increase exposure to flooding, water quality issues, supply‑chain disruption, and reputational risk as expectations on nature‑positive practices grow.

For businesses operating in or trading with Northern Ireland, the Strategy signals future expectations around:

• Nature‑related regulation and permitting

• Land‑use change, nutrient management, and pollution controls

• Reporting and disclosure of biodiversity impacts and dependencies

• Alignment with UK‑wide and global targets such as “30 by 30” and the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Engaging early with the consultation and tracking the Strategy’s implementation can help businesses anticipate changes, influence policy design, and identify opportunities for nature‑positive investment.

Key facts at a glance

• Consultation opened on 20 January 2026 and closes on 18 March 2026

• The strategy aligns with national and international biodiversity goals

• Strategic objectives include protecting nature and supporting sustainable use

• Proposed actions cover tree planting and pollution prevention planning

• 12% of assessed species in Northern Ireland are currently at risk of extinction

Emerging expectations: from biodiversity loss to nature‑positive

The Strategy is part of a wider shift in the UK towards nature‑positive policy, alongside environmental improvement plans and climate action plans. Regulators and investors increasingly expect businesses to understand and manage their nature‑related impacts, much as they have had to do for carbon and climate in recent years.

Practical implications are likely to include:

• Stronger requirements on nutrient and pollution management

• Greater scrutiny of land use, peatland, and freshwater habitats

• Pressure to integrate biodiversity into risk management and ESG reporting

• Opportunities for nature‑based solutions, habitat restoration, and partnership projects

SBS insight

Understanding and aligning with biodiversity initiatives can help businesses mitigate operational and regulatory risks while strengthening their sustainability credentials. At SBS, we support organisations to navigate biodiversity, nature recovery, and wider environmental compliance in a practical and business-focused way.

At SBS, we help organisations move from high‑level commitments to practical nature‑positive action that works for the business model as well as the environment. This includes:

• Mapping nature‑related risks and opportunities in your operations and supply chain

• Integrating biodiversity into existing net‑zero and ESG strategies

• Designing nature‑positive projects (e.g. tree planting, habitat restoration, nature‑based solutions) that align with regulatory expectations

• Supporting responses to consultations and policy developments so your sector’s voice is heard

If you operate in Northern Ireland or are exposed to NI‑based supply chains, we can help you understand what the draft Nature Recovery Strategy could mean for your organisation and how to respond proactively.

Further reading

Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation: https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/daera/nature-recovery-strategy-for-northern-ireland/
DAERA Draft Nature Recovery Strategy: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations/draft-nature-recovery-strategy