Over 120 farmers on the Aran Islands have spent the winter preparing for an assessment of their farms by drone, as part of a new project focused on protecting the islands’ unique biodiversity.

The Caomhnú Árann agri-environmental project is a partnership between farmers, Teagasc, Failte Ireland, the Department of Heritage, and the project team, headed up by Patrick McGurn.

McGurn explained: “The agricultural output for farmers is the weanling calf, but these islands are extremely important for biodiversity and tourism also.”

A cow grazing a field surrounded by stone walls. \ Caomhnú Árann project team

Around 300,000 tourists visit the Aran Islands annually, with the unique farming landscape of stone walls and suckler cows a major draw. The three-year project is about preserving that heritage and rewarding farmers for the delivery of an ecosystem dependent on grazing.

Cattle being outwintered on the islands. \ Caomhnú Árann project team

Most of the cattle are outwintered, with extremely fragmented farms varying in size from 8ha to 20ha and stocked at less than half a cow to the hectare.

Caomhnú Árann follows on from the AranLIFE project, which focused on installing rainwater catchers and opening up boreens to make paddocks more accessible for grazing.

The next step, McGurn explained, is to improve habitats.

Farmers will be paid to carry out work such as removing scrub.

Having trialled aerial photographs initially, the project team will use drones to assess the conditions of fields this summer, on a scale from one to five.

A rainwater catcher installed as part of the project to provide a water source for cattle. \ Caomhnú Árann project team

Fields scoring one or two will receive no payment, while those scoring between three and five can secure a payment of up to €150/ha.

“We found aerial photographs weren’t high enough resolution to make accurate scores”, McGurn said. “The drones are higher resolution. It removes the need to walk the fields and reduces administration costs.”

Another potential income stream for farmers being examined is the harvesting of wildflower seed to be sold to tourists.

An example of some of the flora growing on the Aran Islands. \ Caomhnú Árann project team