Farming for Conservation in the Burren

BurrenLIFE &

The Burren Farming for Conservation Programme

The Burren: … limestone landscape, west of Ireland … mosaic of natural & semi-natural habitats

Limestone grasslands & heaths*

Limestone pavements* Wetlands*

Atlantic hazel woods

Almost half is designated Special Area of Conservation (c. 340 km2) But only 6% is National Park

Most of the Burren is privately owned farmland

Depend on farmers & farming to manage Natura 2000

Summer improved agricultural grassland

Traditional grazing in the Burren – ‘Winterage’

Traditional grazing in the Burren – ‘Winterage’

Winter ‘winterage’

Natura 2000

Winter grazing:

Key to maintaining the grasslands & heaths

Winter grazing:

Key to maintaining the grasslands & heaths

Intensification -Feeding

Change in focus

Intensification -Feeding Winterages undergrazed or occasionally abandoned

Bad news – habitats deteriorating

Change in focus

In the Burren:

• Protecting N2K from the negative impacts of farming

• Not delivering conservation objectives

Alternative:

• Promote & reward positive farming

• Address local problems & deliver results

• Payments for output & meaningful activities

Obvious solution – an Agri-environmental Scheme

REPS ‘ The Rural Environmental Protection Scheme’

Farmer’s view:

• Important income

• Restrictions, ‘calendar farming’, meaningless activities, penalties

BurrenLIFE Project (2005-2010)

Finding local solutions to local problems

Budget €2.23m (75% from the EU LIFE Nature Fund) Partners National Parks & Wildlife Service Teagasc Burren Irish Farmers Association

…developing practical farm management systems to benefit the environment, the habitats and the farmers of the Burren

‘Best of the Best’ Award

LIFE Nature Projects 2010!

‘Farming for Conservation’

Listening & learning

Detailed Research & Monitoring

Agricultural, Ecological, Environmental & Socio-economic

Main Outcomes:

Verifiable improvement in condition of grazed Annex I habitats

Recommended management practices (costed) & guidelines

High approval & support from the farming community

€1 million per annum to Burren farmers (2010 – 2015)

Dept. of Agriculture, Food & the Marine – payment to farmers 2010-2014 - Article 68 2015 - National Exchequer 2016 – RDP?

Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (BFCP)

Locally targeted & managed AES

Based on the findings of the BurrenLIFE Project

National Parks & Wildlife Service* – fund local office and management team

*Dept. Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht

Objectives of the BFCP

• To ensure the sustainable agricultural management of high nature value farmland in the Burren

• To contribute to the positive management of the Burren’s landscape and cultural heritage

• To contribute to improvements in water quality and the efficiency of water usage in the Burren

To deliver environmental benefits & value for money

BFCP - A ‘Hybrid’ Agri-environmental Scheme

Results-based:

Payment for delivery of ‘healthy’ species-rich, grazed habitats

Management activities:

Payment toward the cost of farm enhancement works*

* to benefit farmer &/or environment

Results-based Payments

Making conservation a ‘product’

Calculating payments - Field Scoring System

• Field scored annually using simple indicators (score 1-10) by trained farm advisors

• Better management > higher scores > more money

• Developed for the BFCP but adaptable

• Simple monitoring tool for impact of BFCP

Undergrazed Scrub encroachment Damage to natural water source Score 3/10 €48/ha

+ feed site damage > soil erosion Score 2/20 €0

Silage 0r hay fed in ring feeder Score 0/10 €0/ha

Well managed with no problems Score 10/10 €120/ha

Farmers in Control - ‘Freedom to Farm’

To achieve the conservation objectives (results)

• Farmers told what’s wanted, up to them to how they achieve it

• Support and training provided

• Farmer proposes work to improve management & field scores Water provision, wall repair, gates, feed equipment, scrub control, access tracks

– Work costed and plan drawn up by advisor

– Farmer co-funds work (25-75%)

– Farmer paid for work declared complete

• 11 trained advisers

• Management team = 3 full time + 2 part time (seasonal)

• c. 14,500 ha N2K & additional species-rich grazed habitats

• 157 farmers (345 applied – competitive selection process)

Status

Benefits 2010-2014

-8.00%

-6.00%

-4.00%

-2.00%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Ch

an

ge

Score

Change in 'Health' Scores 2010 to 2014 Higher the score, the better the condition

Benefits for Natura 2000?

Benefits for the landscape 91km of broken wall repaired

Up to 215 ha of encroaching scrub removed

503 gates hung incl. 120 ‘Burren’ gates

Benefits for water quality and efficient usage

New supplies 388 water troughs, 68

storage tanks Protection of existing supplies

Improved water ‘harvesting’

Increased water storage

New pumped supplies & delivery

Benefits for farming for conservation

142 km paths through scrub

47.5 km of surfaced vehicle tracks (20 km new, 27.5 km upgraded) 174 troughs & 118 feed storage bins

Improved Access – farmers & stock

Socio-Economic Benefits

Input into local economy (2010-2014)

Farmers shared €4.98m. Average income €6.5k/yr

Money circulates:

Contractors – database of 80 local workers

Agricultural suppliers

Local industry e.g. Burren gates

Value for money (tax payers)

Verifiable results for c. €69/ha/yr

Good management of Natura 2000

Landscape cared for – bedrock of local tourism

Impact on Local Pride

Proud to be farmers in the Burren, proud of their achievements

Increased knowledge of both natural & cultural heritage (farm tours co-op)

Partners in conservation, rather than the scape-goats

Paid on for a product not a ‘hand-out’