The implementation of the nature restoration law should be suspended following information presented at a hill farming conference last week, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA) has said.

Research presented by Ulster University at a joint Teagasc-CAFRE Uplands Symposium showed the level of carbon emitted by upland peatlands could be grossly overestimated.

Incoming INHFA president Pheilim Molloy said the initial findings from the research carried out on the CAFRE hill farm by Ulster University need to be taken into account when it comes to the nature restoration law.

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“It is totally unacceptable that peatland farmers are being dictated to by the European Union (EU) on drained peatland releases of carbon when the Ulster University research shows that drained peatland on the CAFRE farm actually sequesters an average of 2.53t CO2eq/ha/year,” he said.

While the nature restoration law details the need to protect and improve habitats, the primary focus of this law is to reduce carbon emission from peatlands, Molloy added.

“This is why we want to now, pause any implementation of the law until we can determine what level of carbon if any is being lost from our peatlands,” he said.

More research needed

The soon-to-be INHFA president called for the Government to conduct their own research into carbon emissions from drained peatlands.

“It is critical that the Irish State through Teagasc or the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, now commission our own research on both our drained and upland peatland areas which was a call made at last year’s AGM of the [INHFA].”

“It we continue to leave this research to those outside the Republic we are destined to be rule takers on controversial science rather than rule makers based on good science,” he added.

AGM

Molloy will be officially ratified as the INHFA’s new president at the organisation’s AGM on Thursday 11 September in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

Outgoing president and Roscommon native, Vincent Roddy said the AGM will see the official ratification of Molloy as the association's new president, in addition to the election of a national secretary and treasurer.

“Molloy, who is from Donegal, will also get to nominate his vice-presidents for the coming two-year term of his presidency,” Roddy added.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon will address the AGM.

A panel discussion will include Dr Stan Lawlor, director of Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc; Dr Brendan Dunford, founder of the Burren Beo Trust; Mick O’Dowd, Kepak and an INHFA representative.

The theme for the discussion is how sustainable farming can protect and improve our rural communities.

“This is a new departure for the AGM and will provide informed analysis on the role of farming in sustaining rural communities while also giving delegates an opportunity to engage with panel members through a question-and-answer format,” Roddy said.

He added that he is grateful to all the officers and members for their ongoing support over the last four years and expressed his best wishes to the incoming president: “Pheilim has excelled in several roles over the last number of years and will no doubt excel as national president.”