South Antrim MLA Mr Blair was speaking after visiting Divis and the Black Mountain as part of the National Trust’s Step Up for Clean Water campaign, alongside Alliance West Belfast spokesperson Shay Fox.

“I want to thank the National Trust for their excellent tour, highlighting the important work they are doing at this ecologically significant site. With upland heath, blanket bog, and diverse grasslands, this location was an ideal place to celebrate Biodiversity Day,” said Mr Blair.

“Biodiversity Day is an important opportunity to reflect on the vital role nature plays in all of our lives. Healthy ecosystems are essential to our wellbeing, our economy, our food systems, our climate resilience and much more. 

“That is why the work being taken forward by Alliance DAERA Minister Andrew Muir is so significant. He is taking important steps to address biodiversity decline and put in place a more coherent framework for nature recovery, including initiatives such as the draft Nature Recovery Strategy, the Environment Improvement Plan and Farming with Nature. 

“But to tackle this challenge effectively, support from other parties is essential. Protecting the environment can’t be the responsibility of a single Minister or party alone – it requires a collective political effort and a shared understanding that safeguarding nature should be a top priority.”