The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has extended the deadline for applications for a new chair and deputy chair of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC).
The CNCC provides independent advice to the department on matters affecting the countryside and nature conservation, along with Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs), with due regard to matters affecting agriculture, forestry and inland fisheries.
According to DAERA the total time commitment for the chair of the CNCC Board is 48 days per year, with an annual payment of £10,364, which is under review.
The deputy chair of the board must commit to 33 days per year, this position is paid at an annual rate of £6,964, also under review.
DAERA The deadline for this competition has been extended to midnight on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
It is anticipated that the successful candidates will be appointed for a three-year period by 1 March 2025.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir has said that everyone has a part to play in protecting and enhancing our natural landscapes.
He made the comments as Landscapes NI was launched its manifesto for landscapes
in Northern Ireland.
The event showcased the special landscapes and natural environment of Northern Ireland and the variety of benefits that landscapes provide to people.
Landscapes NI is a network of 16 different organisations working directly to manage nature and people in the Northern Ireland landscape.
Welcoming the launch of the manifesto, Minister Muir said: “Northern Ireland has an incredible array of amazing landscapes and seascapes.
“They are not only places of outstanding beauty they are also where we live, work and play, they provide a home for diverse nature and wildlife, and they support livelihoods through agriculture and tourism.”
The minister said that the harm caused to such landscapes must be reduced to ensure that they are resilient to the risks of climate change.
“It is our responsibility to protect these natural treasures for future generations.
“The Landscapes NI manifesto has clear links to the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) that was agreed by the Executive and published last month.
“The EIP commits to developing a landscape Action Plan by December 2025, completing a landscape and policy review, and then, publishing a landscape strategy by March 2027,” he said.
