The Winter 2011 Issue of the Nature's Web Newsletter - an exciting newsletter for children - has been posted on the web.

The European Commission has renewed its threat to impose substantial fines on Ireland if turf-cutting takes place on protected bogs next year.

The number of barn owls in Northern Ireland has dropped by nearly 90% over the last 80 years, with just 30 breeding pairs estimated to be left.

In the North, the Department of the Environment (DOE) has confirmed that Zebra mussels are present at Loughgall Country Park Lake in Co. Armagh.

Three red kites which were found dead near Lusk, North County Dublin are thought to have been poisoned, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan has said.

Natura 2000, the EU's network of protected areas, has undergone a significant expansion.

The Cliffs of Moher have lost out in a long-running competition to be named as one of the world’s new 'seven wonders'.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has announced legislation placing 'a biodiversity duty' on all public bodies.

The state has agreed to undertake a national census of otters.

Turf cutters are set to bypass the Government and take their case to the European Commissioner for the Environment in a bid to find a solution to a problem which could cost the state €20,000 a day in fines if it is not resolved.