The Minister made his comments during a speech to mark Mannok Sustainability Week at the Mannok Innovation Centre in Derrylin, County Fermanagh, where he spoke about the need to address biodiversity decline and climate change through Green Growth.
The Minister also highlighted how all types of businesses and organisations can help protect our environment, with many already doing so by utilising ‘Green Growth’ initiatives.
Mannok are currently developing Biodiversity Improvement Plans on their land in conjunction with Ulster Wildlife. This shows how Green Recovery can be delivered on the ground by safeguarding and restoring biodiversity and addressing climate change through peatland restoration and tree planting.
Speaking in Derrylin, Mr Poots said: “I commend the action being taken by Mannok in partnership with Ulster Wildlife to produce an action plan for the biodiversity and carbon assets on their land. This will greatly contribute to The Executive’s Green Growth Strategy and both the Biodiversity Strategy and Peatland Strategy currently being developed.
“I recognise the challenges facing the implementation of the Green Growth Strategy, which needs to fully address climate change and biodiversity loss alongside the needs of our economy. Action to halt biodiversity decline and climate change are at the very centre of achieving Green Growth. We need to recognise the importance of nature recovery and nature-based solutions to meet these challenges and the need to build more resilient nature-friendly landscapes.”
Minister Poots concluded, “Putting sustainability at the heart of our economic recovery from Covid-19 is key to creating a resilient economy and healthy environment for all. Green Growth is recognised globally as an approach to achieve economic growth and development while ensuring natural assets continue to provide the resources and environment on which our wellbeing depends. I would like to encourage other businesses to follow Mannok’s example, taking these steps such as this will help all of us reap the benefits of our ‘Green Recovery,’ now and in the years to come as we look towards the launch of our ‘Green Growth’ Strategy in 2021.”