Conor Macauley

Investing in Northern Ireland’s natural environment is a vital part of the economic recovery from Covid–19, a leading conservation charity has said.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the pandemic was a reminder the economy and wider society depend on the natural environment.

It has drawn up a five–point plan to achieve that and says it can deliver jobs.

Proposals include legislation on climate change and biodiversity loss.

There is also a commitment to a so–called “green recovery” by the NI Executive.

• ‘Millions lack access to green spaces’
• Reconnecting with nature ‘triggers’ eco–actions

The charity said it had a series of shovel–ready projects which could help restore nature and create jobs.

These included things such as climate change mitigation, species recovery and habitat restoration.

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