To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs pursuant to AQW 11012/17-22, for an update on the Biodiversity Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030.

In my previous response, I highlighted the various factors that made it difficult to provide you with an exact date for finalising a new Biodiversity Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Development of the new strategy has begun. The thrust of the document will be based on the relevant targets included in the United Nation’s draft Convention on Biological Diversity framework. The framework may be subject to change and is intended to be formally agreed at next year's Council of the Parties meeting (CoP15) in Kunming, China. CoP15 is now due to take place between 25 April and 8 May 2022 following previous postponements due the pandemic.