Farmers on designated land could be paid to fence off areas from livestock, carry out extensive grazing and cut out fertiliser in a series of schemes worth €15m a year.
A suite of new agri-environmental schemes could be rolled out for farmers to conserve certain habitats and birds on designated land, if a report by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is acted upon.
The draft report for conservation measures on Natura 2000 land has outlined the measures and investment needed to conserve the country’s habitats and birds on designated land.
In order to conserve lowland hay meadows and coastal dunes, farmers could be paid €490/ha/year to carry out extensive grazing and not spread any fertiliser
Payments under these schemes could be recurring or once-off payments, according to the NPWS.
For example, in order to conserve lowland hay meadows and coastal dunes, farmers could be paid €490/ha/year to carry out extensive grazing and not spread any fertiliser on the land.
Farmers could be paid a once-off payment of €200/ha to fence livestock out of a protected area.
NPWS officials also propose that farmers are paid €15m per year for the administrative cost of managing Natura 2000 lands.
Natura 2000 network
Some 13% of Ireland’s land, just over 9,000km², is included in the Natura 2000 network. These areas are known as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
Most of these sites are on the western seaboard, with other mountainous and coastal areas in the east and south.
Ireland has 439 sites selected for conservation as SACs and adopted by the European Commission as sites of community importance.
Some 276 of these have been formally designated under law as SACs, while the formal designation process for the remaining 163 is ongoing.
There is a public consultation on the report, with submissions invited until 5pm on Friday 18 September.
What does it mean for farmers
An estimated 35,000 farmers are farming on designated land and the NPWS’s proposed restoration measures will be prioritised based on habitats and species that are in badly declining status. The NPWS reported last year that the country’s lowland hay meadows are among those deteriorating. It is proposed in the report that farmers will be paid for any measures they carry out and as the implementation of these measures increases, “more targeted site-based monitoring will be required” to assess the results of measures.
€400/ha for rush management
The NPWS proposes to restore heathlands and shrub areas, including commonages and sand dunes. Some 1,000ha is targeted for the restoration of habitat for the hen harrier.
Farmers could be paid €400/ha for rush management, creating grazing strips and predator control. It is proposed that 10,000ha of heath is targeted and that farmers would be paid €350/ha/year to extensively graze livestock and stop spreading fertiliser.
It is also proposed that a once-off €200/ha payment is made for scrub removal.
“Results-based supports with associated ecological advisory elements could be a very positive incentive in this group and should be considered in the CAP strategic plan,” the report authors recommend.
Strategic purchase of peatlands
To conserve grasslands, such as lowland hay meadows, it is proposed that protective schemes be rolled out for certain birds. The NPWS proposes that farmers be paid €520/ha/year for delayed mowing and low fertiliser input on meadows, to protect the whinchat, a robin-sized migratory bird that comes to Ireland from April to September.
Farmers could also be given a once-off €1,000 payment if they install a pond for the natterjack toad.
Farmers could be paid to fence off peatlands from livestock for €400/ha in a once-off payment, under the NPWS proposal.
It also proposes that 1,300ha of peatland is purchased and landowners on a further 620ha of peatland receive a once-off compensation payment.
A pilot knowledge transfer discussion group is recommended for upland sheep farmers who farm blanket bog, along with a pilot results-based scheme for those farming on blanket bog.
Old oak woodlands and bog woodlands are protected in SACs and they are considered to be in a bad and favourable state, respectively.
To increase native woodlands, a once-off payment of €629/ha for tree planting, non-native tree removal and species control is proposed.
A native woodland establishment scheme is proposed for private landowners for old oak woods, with an annual cost of €673/ha/year.
Read more
Farm intensification and fertiliser behind deteriorating hay meadows - report
Designated farmers: ‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’
Farmers on designated land could be paid to fence off areas from livestock, carry out extensive grazing and cut out fertiliser in a series of schemes worth €15m a year.
A suite of new agri-environmental schemes could be rolled out for farmers to conserve certain habitats and birds on designated land, if a report by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is acted upon.
The draft report for conservation measures on Natura 2000 land has outlined the measures and investment needed to conserve the country’s habitats and birds on designated land.
In order to conserve lowland hay meadows and coastal dunes, farmers could be paid €490/ha/year to carry out extensive grazing and not spread any fertiliser
Payments under these schemes could be recurring or once-off payments, according to the NPWS.
For example, in order to conserve lowland hay meadows and coastal dunes, farmers could be paid €490/ha/year to carry out extensive grazing and not spread any fertiliser on the land.
Farmers could be paid a once-off payment of €200/ha to fence livestock out of a protected area.
NPWS officials also propose that farmers are paid €15m per year for the administrative cost of managing Natura 2000 lands.
Natura 2000 network
Some 13% of Ireland’s land, just over 9,000km², is included in the Natura 2000 network. These areas are known as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
Most of these sites are on the western seaboard, with other mountainous and coastal areas in the east and south.
Ireland has 439 sites selected for conservation as SACs and adopted by the European Commission as sites of community importance.
Some 276 of these have been formally designated under law as SACs, while the formal designation process for the remaining 163 is ongoing.
There is a public consultation on the report, with submissions invited until 5pm on Friday 18 September.
What does it mean for farmers
An estimated 35,000 farmers are farming on designated land and the NPWS’s proposed restoration measures will be prioritised based on habitats and species that are in badly declining status. The NPWS reported last year that the country’s lowland hay meadows are among those deteriorating. It is proposed in the report that farmers will be paid for any measures they carry out and as the implementation of these measures increases, “more targeted site-based monitoring will be required” to assess the results of measures.
€400/ha for rush management
The NPWS proposes to restore heathlands and shrub areas, including commonages and sand dunes. Some 1,000ha is targeted for the restoration of habitat for the hen harrier.
Farmers could be paid €400/ha for rush management, creating grazing strips and predator control. It is proposed that 10,000ha of heath is targeted and that farmers would be paid €350/ha/year to extensively graze livestock and stop spreading fertiliser.
It is also proposed that a once-off €200/ha payment is made for scrub removal.
“Results-based supports with associated ecological advisory elements could be a very positive incentive in this group and should be considered in the CAP strategic plan,” the report authors recommend.
Strategic purchase of peatlands
To conserve grasslands, such as lowland hay meadows, it is proposed that protective schemes be rolled out for certain birds. The NPWS proposes that farmers be paid €520/ha/year for delayed mowing and low fertiliser input on meadows, to protect the whinchat, a robin-sized migratory bird that comes to Ireland from April to September.
Farmers could also be given a once-off €1,000 payment if they install a pond for the natterjack toad.
Farmers could be paid to fence off peatlands from livestock for €400/ha in a once-off payment, under the NPWS proposal.
It also proposes that 1,300ha of peatland is purchased and landowners on a further 620ha of peatland receive a once-off compensation payment.
A pilot knowledge transfer discussion group is recommended for upland sheep farmers who farm blanket bog, along with a pilot results-based scheme for those farming on blanket bog.
Old oak woodlands and bog woodlands are protected in SACs and they are considered to be in a bad and favourable state, respectively.
To increase native woodlands, a once-off payment of €629/ha for tree planting, non-native tree removal and species control is proposed.
A native woodland establishment scheme is proposed for private landowners for old oak woods, with an annual cost of €673/ha/year.
Read more
Farm intensification and fertiliser behind deteriorating hay meadows - report
Designated farmers: ‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’
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