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20/08/2012
National Parks Consultation Under Way
Member of the Ulster Farmers Union are meeting with environment minister Alex Attwood today to discuss whether or not Northern Ireland should have national parks.
Their meeting comes shortly after Mr Attwood's departmet identified the Mournes, the Causeway Coast, the Antrim Glens and the Fermanagh Lakelands as possible areas for national park designation.
The minister said in June he wanted NI – the only region in the UK that does not have any national parks - to have two of the highly protected areas.
Mr Attwood said he believed that now was the time for Northern Ireland legislation for national parks, and he would be circulating a paper to the executive recommending they endorsed the principle of national parks legislation.
The law being changed would allow the Department of the Environment to name areas as national parks, with a government-funded conservation and promotion body.
England has 10 national parks, Wales has three and Scotland has two.
(NE)
Their meeting comes shortly after Mr Attwood's departmet identified the Mournes, the Causeway Coast, the Antrim Glens and the Fermanagh Lakelands as possible areas for national park designation.
The minister said in June he wanted NI – the only region in the UK that does not have any national parks - to have two of the highly protected areas.
Mr Attwood said he believed that now was the time for Northern Ireland legislation for national parks, and he would be circulating a paper to the executive recommending they endorsed the principle of national parks legislation.
The law being changed would allow the Department of the Environment to name areas as national parks, with a government-funded conservation and promotion body.
England has 10 national parks, Wales has three and Scotland has two.
(NE)
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The Ulster Farmers Union have come out against plans for national parks in Northern Ireland. It follows a meeting they had with Stormont's environment minister Alex Attwood earlier this week where they discussed his department's plans to set up two national parks in either the Cauesway Coast, the Fermangh Lakelands or the Mourne Mountains.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
