RSPB

WILD ABOUT

N AT U R ER S P B N O R T H E R N I R E L A N D

RSPB_NI Brochure_v8 6/3/09 4:22 PM Page 2

Hello!“Be part of a millionvoices speaking up for nature.”

David

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Northern Ireland is a land rich in wildlife and stunning countryside. The ruggedcliffs of Rathlin Island and the mudflats of Strangford Lough are just two placesthat make Northern Ireland perfect for thousands of migratory waterbirds andspectacular seabird colonies. Our land is also home to wildlife that occursnowhere else in the UK, such as the Irish hare and Real's wood white butterfly.

But our wildlife, and the land it relies on, is under threat.

The corncrake, lapwing and chough are some of the birds that have sufferedserious declines in Northern Ireland. Natural grasslands and peat bogs are being damaged or lost to development. We have the lowest percentage of landarea protected for wildlife, known as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), in the UK.

RSPB Northern Ireland is committed to conserving all bird species as well asprotecting, enhancing and re-creating key habitats for all wildlife. The support of over 11,000 members in Northern Ireland and over one million throughout the UK, funds our work. We currently look after over 3,000 hectares of naturereserves, bringing benefits to wildlife, to the quality of life for people who live here and boosting the local economy through sustainable tourism.

Help us do more.

So now we've said hello, let's get to know each other so we can work togetherto make sure we don't all say goodbye to the wildlife and natural environmentthat makes Northern Ireland, and other places across the world, truly special.

RSPB Northern Ireland is part of the RSPB, which speaks out for birds andwildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way.


Picture, as you read this booklet, yourfavourite natural walk, place or view. It might be here in Northern Ireland, or maybe abroad. Now imagine it wasn'tthere any more. Not a nice thought, is it?What if, after it was gone, you found outthere was something you could have doneto save it? How are you feeling now?Angry? Upset? Disappointed? All three?What we do, in a nutshell, is make sureyour favourite walk, place or view isn't justthere for you to enjoy today, but also formany more generations to come.

Our work is lifesaving, lifeenhancing and life enriching.

Mark S

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What we do


Conservation isn't just about avoiding extinction. It's about restoring or recovering wildlife populations to secure levels, as well as preventing species fromreaching dangerously low levels in the first place.Conserving and restoring natural habitats is a vital part of that work. We have a team of over 40 dedicatedstaff, together with over 170 volunteers across NorthernIreland, working to protect vulnerable habitats andthreatened wildlife.

Our staff, volunteers and supporters seek to ensure that Northern Ireland's wealth of wildlife is enriched and protected. When we're pond dipping with schoolchildren, surveying farmland birds, giving a talk,managing a nature reserve or advising on policy we are happy. Happy because we enjoy what we do. Happy because we know that by doing it we arepromoting and educating people that an environmentgood for wildlife is also good for people.

Through detailed investigation, sound scientific researchand evidence, we identify problems facing birds and theenvironment, and design practical solutions to help them.In Northern Ireland, for example, the decline in farmlandbirds is a result of the loss of important habitats.Farmland covers around 80% of the countryside, so wehave implemented a number of hands-on recoveryprojects. We are also working closely with farmers andland managers to secure the futures of the lapwing,yellowhammer, chough, curlew and tree sparrow.

We work with the Department of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment to advise on sustainable farming practices.We lobby for the protection of our most importantwildlife sites. We object when they are threatened byinappropriate development. We campaign to get ourmessages across to the public and to politicians inparticular. We promote the better use of land, fisheries,water and energy resources to create a sustainable futurefor Northern Ireland.

Because if we don't do it, who will?

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We're not reserved about our nature reserves. Why should webe? They're special places. Looked after by special people.Home to special wildlife. Creating a special day out.

We have 10 reserves across Northern Ireland, which are hometo a number of threatened species. The focus of our reservemanagement is to create habitats for corncrakes, choughs,lapwings and curlews, whose numbers have declineddramatically in the last 30 years.

The reserves are also home to much more wildlife, includingotters, moths, butterflies and rare plants. A visit to a reserve in

Northern Ireland makes for an amazing day out and there is no

entrance charge. Find out for yourself at:

Belfast Lough

Ten minutes from the centre of Belfast but a million miles fromthe hustle and bustle of the city. Our careful management of thelagoon has created the perfect getaway for ducks in theautumn, for breeding terns in the summer, and for people andwading birds all year round.

Portmore Lough

The wide open spaces of this reserve make it a great place toexplore. In summer, the hay meadows are home to abewildering array of butterflies and dragonflies. In winter, thereserve is visited by greylag geese, whooper swans andthousands of ducks.

Nature

reserves

Up close and personal

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Rathlin Island Seabird Centre

Just off Antrim's Causeway Coast, theabundant bird and marine life on andaround Rathlin Island is visible on the shortferry crossing. The Seabird Centre providesa breathtaking close-up of Northern Ireland's biggest seabird colony wherepuffins and thousands of other seabirdscongregate to breed.

Lower Lough Erne

Located in County Fermanagh, Lough Erne isone of the largest freshwater lakes in the UK.Forest trails allow you to explore at yourleisure, and, in spring, get you close to thered squirrel population and impressivebluebell display. There are also locallyprovided boat trips to two of the 40 islandsthat make up the reserve.

In total, we manage over 3,000 hectares of land in Northern Ireland, ensuring protection for some of our most special and vulnerable species.

So, don't be shy. Lose your reserve and

come and visit one of ours.

Find out more about over 100 RSPB

nature reserves to visit in the UK at

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves

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The RSPB is made up of people just like you. People who care.People who care enough to become members. People who care enough to donate money. People who care enough to give their time.

Education, education, education

We complement our conservation work with education activitiesthat inspire audiences about birds and other wildlife, help themto learn about conservation issues and encourage them to takepositive action to safeguard the environment. Sustainable is nolonger just a buzz word. It needs to become a way of life. We're working to make sure sustainable development principleslie at the core of the education system.

Our message

Wildlife are ourprimary concern, but we rely on people.

Do you want to help protect our planet'snatural habitats and wildlife? Do you wantto limit the impact of climate change? Do you want to help save species fromextinction? Do you want your generation'slegacy to be one that made the world abetter place? Do you want to show yourchildren our wonderful naturalenvironment and inspire the start of a lifelong interest?

Good.

You're one of us.

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We seek to influence education policy and thecurriculum. We share our passion with nurserygroups, schools, teacher training and agriculturalcolleges, youth and community groups and otherformal and informal education bodies. We provide teachers with ideas, materials andinformation to bring our message to life in theclassroom and beyond. Junior members areoffered magazines, clubs and individual activitiestailored to them including Wildlife Action Awards,Climate Action Awards and WildSquare.

Much of our education work is funded by theNorthern Ireland Environment Agency, in support of biodiversity, tackling climate changeand sustainable development.

Education equips more people to become the

type of people we need to support our work. An

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The RSPB was founded by volunteers in1889 and volunteers remain a key part ofthe RSPB team in Northern Ireland andacross the world. Getting involved as avolunteer takes our essential conservation messages into the heart ofmore local communities.

Give us a little time and help make

a world of difference.

It’s how we started.It’s still vital today.

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Volunteering


You don't need to be Bill Oddie, Kate Humble or anexpert on birds, to help. We need photographers,office workers, gardeners, fundraisers, educators,writers, designers…and many other people withdifferent skills and experiences.

We want to hear from students and other people keento develop their talents. We want to hear from olderpeople, part-time workers, the retired and others whowant to put their spare time, knowledge andexperience to good use. We need people to volunteer at our offices, on our reserves, at events and from home.

We take volunteering seriously. We have a dedicatedVolunteer Development Officer to make sure we giveour volunteers interesting and inspirational roles thatare enjoyable, greatly benefit our work and make thebest use of the skills and experiences available.

There are several local groups across Northern Ireland,including Lisburn, Coleraine, Belfast, Larne, Antrim,Bangor and Enniskillen. These groups help us raisefunds and communicate our vital conservationmessage. They also have field trips and socialprogrammes to help you make the most of NorthernIreland's wildlife.

Share your skills. Make new friends.

Help protect our wildlife.

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Declining bird numbers here and around the world indicate a rapid deterioration in the global environment.

Across the world, money raised by members and throughdonations helps the RSPB save wild birds, protect the wildplaces they live in and create a sustainable future for the localpopulation and the rest of the globe. Here's just one example.

Save the Sumatran rainforest

Around the world, 62 acres of forest (that's the equivalent of 34 football pitches) are being chopped down every minute. That's 3,720 acres an hour and 89,280 acres a day. That's right.We've done the maths. And that's why we're taking action nowbefore it's too late.

Tropical rainforests are phenomenally rich in wildlife and home to almost three-quarters of the world's known land-based plants and animals. Harapan Rainforest, part of theSumatran lowland forest, is home to a stunning array of birdsand wildlife. It represents one sixth of Sumatra's remaininglowland rainforests.

In just over 100 years, Sumatra's lowland forests have shrunkfrom 16 million hectares to around 600,000. Logging, both legal and illegal, has devastated the area, causing a disaster for wildlife but also for the world's climate. The fewer treesthere are, the less chance we have of keeping climate changeunder control.

Our work has aninternational appeal.

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International


Together with our local and internationalpartners, the RSPB has stopped logging byacquiring a logging licence for the area.Rather than cutting timber, we are using ourlicence to let the forest recover, andcultivating cuttings and seeds from nativetrees in nurseries to replant and repair themost damaged areas.

Harapan Rainforest is nothing short of arevolutionary approach and brings hope to rainforests around the world. We needmore members and more donations tocontinue with this vital work to ensure thelessons learnt can be applied to restoreother tropical rainforests, and offset theimpact of climate change for everyone.

What happens in Indonesia today, matters

to the rest of the world tomorrow.

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Without people like you, we couldn't do any of this.

The RSPB holds less than three months' financial reserves. That means if all our income from members and supporterssuddenly stopped tomorrow, we would run out of funds to do our vital work exactly three months later.

That's why we're asking you to join.

Choose from individual, couple or family membership.Children join our special club, RSPB Wildlife Explorers. Buymembership as a gift for a friend or loved one. As a memberyou'll receive our award-winning quarterly Birds magazine anda newsletter four times a year all about our work in NorthernIreland. You'll be able to visit more than 100 nature reservesfor free across the UK. You'll enjoy exclusive access to talksand activities, as well as subsidised rates for other events.You'll be helping to secure the future of birds, wildlife andnatural habitats for generations to come.

Join our family by becoming a member, donating

to a campaign or volunteering your time and skills.

We need your help.

Join online at www.rspb.org.uk/join

Join by phone on 028 9049 1547

(9 am - 5 pm, Monday to Friday)

Join by post at The RSPB, Northern Ireland

Headquarters, Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast BT8 7QT

The RSPB was founded in 1889. Today we have more than a million members.We're one of Europe's largest wildlifeconservation charities. Across the UK wehave people just like you supporting,campaigning and donating to help us dealwith a wide range of issues affecting wildbirds and their habitats. We work as afamily with other bird and habitatconservation organisations in a globalpartnership called BirdLife International. In Northern Ireland, we work closely withBirdWatch Ireland, our counterpart in theRepublic of Ireland.

Add your voice

Well, you've readthis far so you've got to beinterested…right?


Joh

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The RSPBNORTHERN IRELAND HEADQUARTERS

Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast BT8 7QTTel: 028 9049 1547

www.rspb.org.uk/nireland

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment.

Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way.

We belong to BirdLife International, the global partnership of bird conservation organisations.

Front cover image: Irish hare by Tom McDonnell The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

840-1444-08-09


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