Andrew McMurray welcomes Strategic Group for Mournes
Andrew McMurray MLA has welcomed news that a Strategic Group for the Mournes has now been established. The Group will be chaired by the DAERA Minister and bring together representatives from a range of Executive departments and arms-length bodies, as well as an observer from the Forever Mournes Partnership.
It will provide strategic leadership, coordination, and oversight for the protection and enhancement of the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The South Down MLA said: ” I am delighted that Minister Muir has established this high-level group. This move reflects the Minister’s recognition of the significance of this special place to the people who work and live in the area and to the many people across Northern Ireland who value this treasured landscape.
“Organisations working in the Mournes have long called for a cross-departmental strategic approach to sustainably manage and promote this special part of Northern Ireland, taking into account community interests while also protecting the natural heritage of the area.
“The Mournes are regionally important as a place for recreation and tourism, as a place of work, and as an important source of employment and business in the area. I myself have been very lucky to work in this special landscape for many years as an outdoor instructor.
“But the area has seen increasing challenges, which have been brought into sharp focus in the last few years.
“Our relationship with this landscape has changed over the decades – particularly since Covid.
“There is now much greater pressure on local resources and the fragile natural environment: from parking issues, path erosion and biodiversity loss to littering and rural arson. It is time for a more coordinated approach to addressing these challenges.
“I welcome this development, which is a really positive step towards ensuring the sustainability of the Mournes.
“I commend Minister Muir for showing the required leadership on this strategically important issue. Having this group in place will help ensure that the Mournes receive the level of departmental oversight and cross-departmental involvement it deserves.
“I would call on all bodies involved to use the opportunities presented by this strategic group to ensure that the Mournes have a truly sustainable future for generations to come.”
