This is a subscriber-only article
Almost €500,000 will be paid to farmers this week in recognition of their contribution to the 2019 hen harrier breeding season under the Hen Harrier Programme, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has announced.
This payment, which comes on top of the annual scheme payment for farmers, is a dividend payment rewarding hen harrier presence and success on the farmer’s land last year.
The Hen Harrier Programme is a €25m scheme from the Department as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme.
Confirmed pairs
Last year was a very successful one for hen harriers – the 56 confirmed pairs in the six Special Protection Areas (SPAs) reared at least 81 chicks. This was the highest number for 14 years. The gains were most pronounced in Kerry where one pair raised an almost unprecedented five chicks.
Minister Creed said: ‘‘This Hen Harrier scheme is a key biodiversity measure from my Department and has gone from strength to strength. More than 1,500 participant farmers are helping to conserve this beautiful bird for generations to come.
“Last year’s successful breeding season comes after a lot of hard work by many stakeholders and it is fitting that we are rewarding this during National Biodiversity Week.”
Farming for conservation
The purpose of the programme is to pilot new approaches to farming for conservation with farmers being paid for improving the natural habitat to deliver defined environmental objectives.
The Hen Harrier Programme invests with farmers in actions that can support the delivery of quality habitats. Over €3m in habitat payments have been paid to farmers over the last six months. The bonus payment this week is the payment from the Hen Harrier Programme to qualifying farmers based on how well hen harriers are doing in their area.
“This bonus payment recognises and rewards farmers for their work and is an acknowledgement that the hen harrier is an asset in the farming landscape. It’s a highly innovative approach and I congratulate Fergal Monaghan and his team in the Hen Harrier Programme for their continued success on the project and for helping the farmers manage the upland landscapes on which the hen harriers depend,” he said.
Welcomed
IFA hill chair Flor McCarthy welcomed the payment bonuses: “This acknowledges the commitment of farmers to the scheme, which is having a positive impact in the Special Protection Areas.”
However, he said a compensation scheme needed to be developed to reflect the restrictions imposed in SAC and SPA Natura areas.
"For instance, forestry is not allowed in these areas, reducing income options for farmers. This has led to land devaluation, which is not in any way recognised by schemes such as GLAS or the locally-led schemes. This must be addressed by the incoming Government," McCarthy said.
SHARING OPTIONS: