The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found that the framework of laws to support the identification and and management of protected sites is strong, but implementation falls short.

And not enough priority sites are getting legal protection, with Northern Ireland lagging behind the rest of the UK, Ireland and Europe in its coverage.

The OEP has made 14 recommendations to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera).

They include setting targets supported by a plan, working with landowners and ensuring that restoring protected sites is a key consideration in the new Farming with Nature agri-environment scheme, which is currently being developed by the department.

The chief executive of the OEP, Natalie Prosser, called for work to turn things around.

“Instead of seeing the improvement of these precious sites we see deterioration.

“And the designation of areas as protected sites has effectively stalled with no new sites being designated since 2018, leaving important places for nature unprotected.

“Our report identifies that the failings are largely not in the legal framework for protecting these natural treasures, instead it is the implementation of these important laws that is falling short.”