DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has confirmed an extra £915,000 for nature recovery through the department’s Environment Fund Multi-Year Strategic Strand, describing it as a near £1 million uplift.

The in-year investment will support 13 projects across Northern Ireland focused on restoring habitats, boosting biodiversity and addressing environmental pressures.

Awards include £78,200 for the RSPB to extend the LIFE Raft project on Rathlin Island to achieve full eradication of invasive rats.

The National Trust will receive £345,149.70 for three initiatives: Forever Lough Neagh work; biosecurity measures on Sheep Island; and the installation of static bat detectors and an accessible bird hide at Barmouth, alongside new path networks at Divis and Black Mountain.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is allocated £26,169.31 to scale up its Adopt A Spot initiative.

The Conservation Volunteers are granted £17,121 to deliver freshwater habitat training, refurbish paths at Breen Oak Wood and remove Sitka spruce at Altikeeragh Bog.

Mourne Heritage Trust is awarded £154,500 for erosion control on Slieve Binnian, implementation of a wildfire recovery plan, enhanced drone survey capacity, and upgrades to tree nurseries at Dunnywater and Silent Valley. Ulster Wildlife receives £28,960 for Black Guillemot nest boxes, Heligoland trap improvements and the production of natural heritage training videos for planners and agents.

Northern Ireland Environment Link is granted £17,500 to broaden engagement with farmers and the wider agri-sector on nature-based solutions.

Outscape is awarded £15,000 to expand the People in the Outdoors Monitor NI (POMNI) – Deep Dive.

Lough Neagh Partnership secures £221,740.90 for two projects: communications and outreach (including videography, advertising, community roadshows, farmer consultation and story mapping) and expert input to curlew survey and tracking.

River Blackwater Trust receives £11,000 to extend a 0.5 FTE post to support the NI Catchment Enhancement and Management project for the remainder of 2025/26.

Minister Muir said: “I am delighted to announce this additional investment of almost £1 million through the Environment Fund’s Multi-Year Strategic Strand. Projects like these are delivering nature recovery across Northern Ireland. Urgent and sustained action is needed to halt and reverse biodiversity decline, and this funding provides a much-needed boost for our natural environment.”

The Environment Fund is a competitive programme that enables not-for-profit organisations and councils to deliver key environmental priorities across Northern Ireland.