Swift And Cuckoo Join The North's Endangered List

A new list of Northern priority species, which require conservation action because of their decline, rarity and importance, was published recently.

New species added to the updated list, published by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), include the cuckoo, swift, garden tiger moth, swan mussel and frog orchid and meadow crane's-bill.

Species retained on the list from 2004 include Irish hare, yellowhammer, house sparrow, marsh fritillary butterfly, horse mussel and Irish lady's-tresses orchid.

The priority species list has increased significantly from 271 in 2004 to 481 in 2010, due to a break down in a number of species groups into individual species, the addition of new species and updated information becoming available.

Graham Seymour, Director of Natural Heritage (NIEA) said: "The list identifies a range of declining, rare and threatened species and will be used to help focus conservation action into the foreseeable future.

"We see this list as a means of informing, supporting and guiding Government Departments as well as other stakeholders in the conservation of our natural environment.

"In this International Year for Biodiversity, and with the EU agreeing the headline target of halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, it is important that we continue to develop mechanisms to help meet this very challenging goal."

Judith Annett, Chair of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (NIBG) added: "NIBG welcomes the publication of this list which highlights our most vulnerable and at risk species and is an important element in halting biodiversity loss. Our local biodiversity is extremely valuable and everything must be done to ensure its protection."