New plan to protect lough species

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7266042.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A new plan is being launched later to clean up Lough Neagh and to protect the unique species and inhabitants that live there.

The Lough Neagh Wetlands Local Biodiversity Action Plan has been developed to highlight what can be done to help biodiversity in the area.

Barn owls, lapwings, common terns, Irish damselflies, are all included in the plan.

Biodiversity Officer Seamus Burns said local people were involved in projects.

"We hope the plan will also encourage people to learn more about the local species and habitats in this area and persuade them to take steps to help protect them," he said.

The plan seeks to focus resources on helping protect the species and habitats that make up the wetland's unique biodiversity.

Tree sparrows, whooper swans, rivers, streams, hedgerows, bogs, wet woodlands, reedbeds, wet grasslands and meadows also feature in the plan.

One project that has come about as a result of the initiaitive is at Sperrin Integrated College in Magherafelt.

Pupils there are working on a wetland project to help restore the Coppies River - a tributary of the River Moyola - as a brown trout habitat.

BBC Springwatch presenter Kate Humble is launching the plan.

"I know the Lough Neagh area well through my work with local people on the Lough Neagh Wetlands Whooper Swan project, so it's great to come here and see the level of community support there is for this local biodiversity action plan," she said.

"Its success depends on local people working to benefit local biodiversity."