Environment bosses are failing their own targets on 40% of Northern Ireland’s supposedly protected natural habitats.
While we may think this impacts just sealife and wildlife, their shortcomings “reflect the state of our air, water and land environments” according to DAERA’s own NI Environmental Statistics Report.
The latest statistics show that 1% of protected sites have been “destroyed” under their watch while 36% are in an unfavourable condition, with 3% unfavourable to recovering.
Read more: New air pollution site reveals the toxins outside your front door
Meanwhile, soluble reactive phosphorus, which feeds algal growth on water bodies is at its highest level in 17 years.
The substance is measured across 93 surveillance rivers across Northern Ireland and in 2021 its average concentration was 0.071mg of phosphorous per litre of water.
Phosphates, which come from fertilizers, can become out of control in water ecosystems, creating imbalances that destroy other lifeforms and produce harmful toxins as algal blooms block out sunlight and oxygen levels plummet.
According to the Global Seafood Alliance, “phosphorus concentrations no greater than 0.05 to 0.1 milligrams per litre can be indicative of eutrophication”.
Just two weeks ago, an investigation was launched after two dogs died after being in contact with water during walks at Rea’s Wood in Antrim.
The outcome of the probe is unknown at this stage and it is unclear whether they had ingested water.
A few days later, NIEA Water Quality Inspectors found “‘mats’ of floating algae” on Newry Canal after pictures were submitted to this publication.
A DAERA spokesperson told us at the time “NIEA have received a number of algal related reports in recent days”.
They added: “It is possible that [algal blooms] could act to limit oxygen transfer or deplete oxygen levels within the water at night when aquatic plant life naturally consumes oxygen, resulting in stress or mortalities amongst fish.”
The latest NI Environmental Statistics Report also highlights the continued failure of the agriculture industry to reduce its emissions.
Of all the sectored measured across NI, it is the only one that has seen its emissions go up from baseline levels.
Meanwhile, ammonia pollution levels from agriculture are going the same way.
From 28.9kt of ammonia in 2001, NI’s ammonia emissions have steadily risen to 31.2kt in 2020, with ammonia from livestock, fertilisers and other organics applied to the land all producing more.
Agriculture is again, largely responsible.
Ammonia impacts soil, water and ecosystems but it also hurts human health as when it mixes with other emissions, can create cancer causing air pollution that can enter the bloodstream, heart, brain and other organs.
Air polluting nitrogen dioxide, which comes from mainly from fossil fuel powered vehicles, also rose from 2020 to 2021.
It was monitored at 10 of NI’s 21 air quality monitoring stations and saw levels rise from 21.8μg/m3 to 24μg/m3.
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland, says: “It shouldn’t take a global pandemic to see action on air pollution.
“We got a taste of lower air pollution levels during lockdowns, but we now need action to ensure levels continue to reduce without forcing everyone to stay in their homes.
“Traffic volumes are up from last year, and we fear 2022 levels will be close to 2019 before too long.
“Around 800 people’s lives are cut short every year in Northern Ireland due to breathing in dirty air. We need fewer cars on the road and that means improving options for people to take public transport, walk, cycle, and move around through accessible active travel options.
“We must not get complacent with air pollution; we desperately need an ambitious Clean Air Strategy so we can all breathe better in Northern Ireland.”
The latest Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report also found four out of five people in NI are very or fairly concerned about the environment, while the illegal waste dumping, climate and pollution are their three biggest concerns.
You can read the full report at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/northern-ireland-environmental-statistics-report
Read more: The Earth's Corr: 11 things politicians can do to improve our lives and climate
Read more: Watch: NI comedian shows why she's 'scundered' with Stormont in sketch series
For the latest politics news straight to your inbox , sign up to our newsletter here
