Nature Reserves

We have long recognised the need to set aside special conservation areas within our forests. These areas fall into two categories, National Nature Reserves and Forest Nature Reserves.

A National Nature Reserve, or NNR, is defined as an area of prime importance for flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which are reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency declares nature reserves under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. There are currently 16 of these reserves on Forest Service Land.

There are further 34 reserves that have been designated by the Forest Service as Forest Nature Reserves. These are not as significant as the NNR's in that they consist of habitats that are more common, but they are nonetheless a valuable resource for conservation and education.

The links below give more details about both these types of nature reserves.

Further information on National Nature Reserves is available from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.