A new €4.35m programme to protect the corncrake – a rare and endangered farmland bird – has been announced by the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

Following the success of the Corncrake LIFE project, this new initiative, the ‘Natura Communities for Birds’ programme will allow communities to deliver more nature conservation actions for farmland birds.

The programme will be led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

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It will see conservation action being led by a locally embedded team in partnership with landowners, farmers and communities.

The NPWS has appointed Atlantic West Community Alliance CLG to develop and help deliver the Nature Community for Birds pilot programme.

Key sites

The programme will initially operate in nine key sites in Donegal, Mayo and Galway. These areas were selected for the conservation of the corncrake and designated as Special Protection Areas but will also support the conservation of a broader range of bird species.

As named on the Red List of Conservation Concern, the corncrake is declining numbers across both Ireland and Europe.

The Corncrake LIFE project contributed to a 55% increase in the national corncrake population over the last five years with almost 1,500 hectares of land in management agreements with landowners.

The Natura Communities for Birds Programme will run for an initial three-year period.

It is funded with contributions from NPWS, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and through Shared Island funding.

Conservation

It will focus on corncrake conservation and habitat restoration, species monitoring and forge community partnerships and develop champions for bird conservation to ensure the long-term conservation of farmland birds and their habitats whilst delivering social benefits for local people in the areas.

“The Corncrake LIFE Project has been an incredibly successful and hopeful story of nature conservation in Ireland. Through investment in conservation, and working hand in hand with local communities, this most elusive bird and its unique call can be heard that bit louder every year in the meadows, farmlands and hayfields of the northwest,” Minister O’Sullivan said at the launch.

We need to support farmers and landowners who want to farm with nature and make sure that they are rewarded for the results they produce

“Last year saw the highest number of corncrake territories recorded in 25 years. An incredible 250 farmers and landowners across Donegal, Mayo and Galway are now managing land for nature, implementing measures which protect this bird and improve its habitat.

“This new programme will build on that progress and provide further investment in communities here to keep up this good work. We need to support farmers and landowners who want to farm with nature and make sure that they are rewarded for the results they produce,” he said.

“I am delighted to support the future corncrake programme and the winning tenderer Atlantic West Community Alliance CLG, which will continue this excellent conservation work,” Minister Heydon commented.

“The learnings from the LIFE project, many of which have already been incorporated in the ACRES CP scheme, will now have the opportunity to adapt and improve further. Today marks a new era and will be a lasting testament to the work of Corncrake LIFE and all the people who contributed to it,” Dr John Carey from the NPWS said.