The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has criticised the Government’s approach of buying up tracts of hill land but not establishing an upland research farm.

The association’s president Pheilim Molloy said that Government has proven that there is a “clear plan to rewild as much as our hill land that they can get their hands on”, citing National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) land acquisitions over recent years.

“There isn't a month that goes by that we don’t hear of the State bidding and buying up hill land, as they look to expand the number and size of our national parks,” Molloy commented.

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“Against this, we see growing frustration among hill farmers at the lack of support, especially in the areas of research that is becoming more and more evident as the years go by.”

'Deficit'

The INHFA president stated that Teagasc’s non-renewal of the lease it held for a 682-acre hill research farm in Leenane, Co Mayo, over a decade ago has led to a “deficit” of the role farming can play in biodiversity, habitat management and carbon capture in upland areas.

He contrasted the state of Irish research on these topics with that emerging from CAFRE’s farm in Glenwherry, Co Antrim.

“Here we see informed research that challenges the narrative on carbon emissions from drained peatlands and establishes how these lands are actually sequestering carbon instead of emitting, while also illustrating the critical role controlled burning has in habitat management,” added the farm leader.

“Unfortunately, in the Irish Republic, we have nothing to match this, but even more depressing is the fact that the financial resources needed to support such research is not forthcoming.

“It seems easier for the State to squander money through the purchase of hill lands for untested rewilding plans than to use some of these resources in developing a hill research farm to support farmers, rural communities and the environment.”

Molloy ended his commentary by pointing to the impact up-to-date research has generated for the dairy sector over recent decades.