Why We Wrote to... The Ramsar Secretariat

A Call to Protect the Lagan Valley and Belfast Lough

The Lagan Valley and Belfast Lough are under siege. What should be protected as vital ecosystems—home to internationally significant wildlife, ancient woodlands, and crucial waterways—are being degraded by unchecked development, government inaction, and a sewage crisis spiraling out of control.

The situation is beyond unacceptable. It is an environmental disgrace.

That’s why we wrote to the Ramsar Secretariat.

Table of Contents

The Ramsar Convention: A Global Commitment to Wetland Protection

The Ramsar Convention exists to protect the world’s most important wetlands. Belfast Lough, a designated Ramsar site, should be safeguarded under international law.¹ Yet, instead of protection, it is being treated like a dumping ground. Raw, untreated sewage is routinely discharged into these waters. The BBC Spotlight investigation, The Sewage Scandal, laid bare the shocking truth—sewage in our rivers, our streets, and our seas.² This is not an oversight. This is systemic negligence.

The Reality: Belfast Lough and the River Lagan Are Dying

Belfast Lough is a critical habitat for wintering birds, fish, and marine life. It should be thriving. Instead, it is being poisoned. Government agencies and developers have turned a blind eye, prioritizing economic gain over environmental survival. The River Lagan, which feeds into the Lough, is equally at risk—choked with pollution, threatened by overdevelopment, and ignored by those who should be safeguarding it.³

If the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive won’t uphold their responsibilities, then we must require them to answer for their failures.⁴

This is an outright betrayal of the Ramsar Convention’s principles.

Our Letter: Demanding Accountability

We have officially reported Northern Ireland’s breaches of the Ramsar Convention. Our message to the Secretariat was clear:

Belfast Lough and its wetlands are being destroyed by sewage discharges and planning failures.⁵
The UK and NI authorities are failing in their duty to protect this internationally recognized site.⁶
Urgent intervention is needed before the damage becomes irreversible.⁷

This is not just about environmental laws on paper. It is about real, tangible destruction happening in our own garden. We refuse to let this go unchallenged.

The Bigger Picture: This is a Global Issue

What is happening in Belfast Lough is disgraceful. Government bodies sign agreements, then ignore them. Planners facilitate developers to push through projects, regardless of environmental impact. Regulators look the other way. We will not allow the Lagan Valley and Belfast Lough to become just another casualty of political apathy and corporate greed.⁸

We will not allow the Lagan Valley and Belfast Lough to become just another casualty of political apathy and corporate greed.⁸

Join Us in This Fight

This is your land, your water, your wildlife. If we don’t fight for it, who will? We need your voice. We need your support. Start a petition, spread the word, and demand accountability.

READ OUR LETTER

Enough is enough.