Policy development within the Regional Park is managed by the Board of Directors, whilst the Management Committee fulfil a supportive and executive role.

The Board is composed of a total of 16 Directors: 10 of these are nominated as Directors from statutory organisations, whilst a further 6 come from public interest groups.

Directors are nominated as follows:

• 2 from Belfast City Council
• 2 from Castlereagh Borough Council
• 2 from Lisburn City Council
• 2 from the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside
• 1 from Countryside Access & Activities Network
• 1 from the National Trust

The Management Committee is composed of representatives of the bodies which directly core fund the Park. It also includes other members who make a financial contribution towards costs and provide support in other ways or who have executive powers in key areas of the Park.

The responsibility for achieving the objectives of the Regional Park is spread amongst a number of organisations:

Belfast City Council, Castlereagh Borough Council and Lisburn City Council

The three councils have the role of providing for access and outdoor recreation within the Park. Along with Environment and Heritage Service, and the Department for Culture Art and Leisure they fund the employment of a Park Manager, a part time Admin Officer and a Ranger Service, with Castlereagh Borough Council acting as the employing authority.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)

Through its Rivers Agency DARD is responsible for the management of the drainage aspects of the River Lagan. Through its Forest Service it is responsible for managing Belvoir Park Forest an important element of the Regional Park in terms of landscape, nature conservation, education and recreational value as well as being the only working forest to lie within a city boundary.

Department of Arts Culture and Leisure (DCAL)

DCAL own and maintain the Lagan Canal including the Towpath and associated water recreational facilities. The Towpath is a strategic component of the Parks access network.

Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC)

CNCC is the statutory body, which advises Government on matters relating to conservation of wildlife and the countryside.

Department of the Environment (DOE)

DOE, through its various Agencies, has the co-ordinating role.

Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)

The NIEA ensures the best use of physical resources, the maintenance of water quality and is involved in funding and steering the work of the Park Staff. Planning Service has the responsibility of ensuring the appropriate use and development of land.

The National Trust

The National Trust is a key Independent Conservation Charity concerned with protecting and conserving the natural and man-made environment, and promoting recreation in and access to the countryside. The Trust owns land within the Park and thus has a role, both in management of their own land holdings and advising on wider management issues.

Countryside Access and Activities Network (CAAN)

CAAN represents a variety of user groups that use the park and works to promote sustainable access to the countryside. It has a role in advising on the recreational use of the Park from informal recreation through to organised sports and activities.

Rural enterprise occupies over one third of the land area contained in the Park. Through farming this land the farmed landscapes and associated wildlife are conserved. Other privately owned Open Space accounts for 17% of the land used with public Open Space occupying a further 25%.

Several other organisations are involved in the regional park either by their efforts to conserve or promote wildlife through conservation initiatives such as the Woodland Trust, Ulster Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and a number of local and volunteer organisations.