What is the Agriculture Sector Doing to Protect Biodiversity

The principal areas where the agricultural sector is enhancing biodiversity include:

• General duties under the Single Payment Scheme, which are to keep land in good agricultural and environmental condition, as well as very specific requirements to comply with the relevant legislation implementing EU Directives on birds, habitats, nitrates and groundwater.
  
• The Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) has been in operation since 1994. REPS 3 was launched in 2004 and includes a far greater emphasis on biodiversity. It is proposed to enhance this emphasis in the new Scheme from 2007. See below
  
• The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme
  
• Support for Organic Farming is currently provided under REPS. Stand-alone support schemes for organic farming are proposed, from 2007
  
• The Department of Agriculture and Food have implemented a co-ordinated programme for the conservation and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture, food and forestry, overseen by a National Advisory Committee on Plant and Animal Genetic Resources
  
• The completion of over 4,000 Commonage Framework Plans - designed to eliminate overgrazing resulting from excessive sheep grazing levels,

REPS - Rural Environmental Protection Scheme

REPS was set up in 1994. It is a scheme designed to reward farmers for carrying out their farming activities in an environmentally friendly manner and to bring about environmental improvement on existing farms.  The number of farmers currently signed up to REPS is over 50,000.

REPS aims to:

• Establish farming practices and production methods which reflect the concern for conservation and landscape protection
• Protect wildlife habitats and endangered species of flora and fauna
• Produce quality food in an environmentally friendly manner

Participants must comply with a set of environmental prescriptions, a central feature of this is that an agri–environmental plan for the farm is drawn up and approved by The Department of Agriculture & Food.  REPS allows farmers to follow management plans that recognise both aesthetic and ecological goals.

REPS helps to conserve bird populations through measures such as those to protect the corncrake and to grow food for wild birds through the LINNET project.

Other REPS measures aimed at enhancing and protecting biodiversity generally also benefit bird populations through preserving habitats and food supplies: e.g. measures dealing with hedgerows, habitats, field margins; and biodiversity options such as nature corridors, species-rich grassland, tree planting and environmental management of set-aside. 

The emphasis on biodiversity will be kept on and increased in the agri-environment and Natura measures in the new Programming Period from 2007 and in addition to the existing biodiversity options, it is proposed to add 10 new options for participants.

Join the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS)

The scheme will give you a framework within which biodiversity can be best protected.

Even if you do not participate in REPS the measures to be put in place under this scheme can be done on any farm, such as:

• Implement a nutrient management plan, to ensure efficient and environmentally friendly use of nutrients (organic and chemical fertilisers) based on the nutrient requirement of the farm and takes into account the location and time for landspreading. Following a plan like this will help prevent run-off into rivers and lakes, thus protecting their biodiversity.
• Implement a grassland management plan to prevent poaching and overgrazing of grassland thus protecting the habitat.
• Protect watercourses, waterbodies and wells - essential elements of the ecosystem.
• Retain wildlife habitats e.g. hedgerows, woodlands, grasslands, scrub etc.
• Maintain farm and field boundaries including hedgerows and stonewalls
• Restrict the use of pesticides and fertilisers near field boundaries, ponds, streams and wells
• Rotate tillage crops

Information on all of the above can be found in the  REPS Handbook

The National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme

Who can apply to join?

Any owner or legal user of lands in a SPA, SAC, NHA or commonage (together known as ‘‘target areas’’) who is not already in REPS.

Why should farmers join?

Farmers should join if:

• Their farm lands in an NHA, SAC, SPA or commonage and they are restricted in farming above and beyond the minimum requirement laid down in the Single Farm Payment Scheme.
• They cannot or do not wish to join REPS, or;
• They have to change farming practice at a monetary loss in order to comply with the law in relation to designated areas, or;
• They are willing to undertake farm management measures to benefit nature in target areas in agreement with NPWS staff.
The scheme may also benefit owners of lands that are not farmed, e.g. woodlands, where designations and management for the benefit of nature cause loss or additional costs.

What are the benefits of joining?

• Farmers or landowners get paid for costs/losses incurred because of designations or commonage framework plans.
• The plan is paid for by NPWS.
• The plan makes clear and plain what you must do to observe the law, and deals with any consent you need to get, so you can get on with farming.

What is the difference between this scheme and REPS?

• The NPWS scheme is intended to cover lands designated for nature value only, whereas REPS is a whole farm scheme
• REPS includes an incentive element whereas by law, the NPWS payment covers costs and losses only.
• REPS may therefore offer a better return, but it depends on your particular circumstances,

The connection to Single Farm Payment

It is a condition of the Single Farm Payment that the former complies with the with the nature conservation requirements arising from the EU Habitats Directive and Birds Directive. If you have any designations on your lands, an NPWS plan will lay out clearly what needs to be done. This will sort out any confusion in regard to the designation so you can get on with your farming. It will also simplify matters with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. For example, in commonages, all shareholders are now required to adhere to the Commonage Framework Plan. A NPWS plan will help you meet the standard required, and is paid for by the NPWS.

What do you need to do to join?

• You must own (or have at least a 5-year lease on) designated lands or commonage, or
• Have legal evidence of rights over lands

What will be in a Farm Plan?

The Farm Plan will have a description of farmers’ designated or commonage lands and the current farming activity; a description of the habitats and species on the lands; the prescribed future management and an account of what is to be paid to farmers by NPWS. Once agreed, this is signed by the farmer, their planner and a representative of NPWS. It will normally operate for five years.

Who pays for the Plan?

The NPWS will pay for the preparation of the plan, as soon as it is agreed by the farmer and NPWS.

For more information on NPWS:

Tel: 1890 20 20 21
Email: farmplans@environ.ie
Address: NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2.