To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of natural systems to absorb carbon emissions to deliver the objectives of the Paris Agreement while (i) enhancing biodiversity; and (ii) respecting land rights.

The Department recognises the interlinkages between climate and nature, and the role that natural systems will play in meeting the Paris Agreement objectives, through climate change mitigation and adaptation. Northern Ireland’s terrestrial and coastal/marine ecosystems, such as peat bogs and other wetlands, woodlands, semi-natural grasslands, saltmarsh, seagrass beds, and shellfish beds, can provide important nature-based solutions to store and absorb carbon and help to combat climate change.

The type, extent, health and condition of our natural ecosystems are determining factors in their ability to hold and sequester carbon. The 2018 Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows that the land use, land-use change and forestry sector, which includes our peatlands and other natural systems, is currently a net contributor of carbon emissions.

It is clear that measures to restore our natural habitats will deliver both for biodiversity and climate change. My Department is undertaking and commissioning a range of studies to establish the extent and condition of our natural habitats, and the potential for nature recovery and nature-based solutions. For example, NIEA are developing a Living Map of Northern Ireland, a dynamic habitat distribution map of protected and priority habitats, in partnership with JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee), and are developing conservation management plans for our Special Areas of Conservation, setting out the necessary conservation measures which will deliver for biodiversity and climate.

DAERA officials are also commissioning research to quantify the stores and flows of blue carbon and identify potential areas for blue carbon habitat restoration in the Northern Ireland marine environment.

Work within DAERA to consider nature-based solutions to address climate change and biodiversity loss is gaining momentum. As part of wider work to develop new post-CAP agriculture policy, officials have been working in partnership with farmers and farmer organisations to develop future Agri-Environment policy and schemes. Schemes to facilitate ecosystem restoration are under consideration as part of this policy development as we will need to support farmers and landowners financially for the environmental benefit that will be created by restoring nature.