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FAQs

Question 1: What is CNCC?

  • CNCC stands for the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside and is a statutory advisor to the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland

Question 2: How many members does it have?

  • Membership consists of a Chairman and up to 19 members. The current Chairman is Mr Patrick Casement

Question 3: Who appoints its members?

  • Membership is sought through public advertisement and appointments made by the Minister for the Environment.

Question 4: How long do they serve?

  • Members can serve up to six years but can have an option for a further period in competition with other applicants.

Question 5: What does it do?

  • It advises government on many issues relating to nature conservation and the protection of the countryside such as planning and landscape issues including national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty; designation of areas of special scientific interest and nature reserves; protection of wildlife species and other nature conservation issues both terrestrial and marine.

Question 6: What powers does it have?

  • It is a statutory advisory body set up under the provisions of the Nature Conservation and the Amenity Lands (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and does not have an executive function. It is a statutory consultee for the designation of AONBs, ASSIs, SACs, and SPAs and as such government must give its advice due consideration.

Question 7: How does it operate and how often does it meet?

  • IThe main Council meets bi-monthly with ad hoc meetings throughout the year to deal with specific issues. It also has a number of working groups and carries out field visits and develops liaison arrangements with other conservation bodies.

Question 8: How does its advice feed into government?

  • Mostly through the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and in response to various government consultations. It may also have direct access to the Minister of the Environment through meetings and correspondence. In addition Council has developed a working programme for examining issues of concern.