FARMING AND CONSERVATION
A VIEW FROM THE WESTERN EDGE OF EUROPE
James Moran
Outline
The Burren. Evolving relationship between
agriculture and Natura 2000 (Conflict to Partnership for a Sustainable Future)
The Burren Farming for Conservation Programme
Farming for Conservation in Natura 2000 areas across EU
The Burren
• Approximately 720km2
• > 50% of area is Natura 2000
Heaths and Grasslands: Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates
(Festuco Brometalia)(*important orchid sites) (6210) Alpine and Boreal heaths (4060)
Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands (5130)Lowland hay meadows (6510)
Limestone pavement (8240) Wetlands:Turloughs (3180)
Calcareous fens (7210)
Petrifying springs (7220)
Farming in the Burren
Semi-natural pastoral landscape dominated by extensive grazing systems
Beef Steers
Dairy Herds Cattle & Sheep
Suckler HerdsConventional & Organic
Farm Setting
High biodiversity, landscape and socio-cultural values Physical limitation - soils, topography, climate and remoteness Aging farming population Farming increasingly part time Less time for labour intensive farming practices Rural isolation Attractiveness of farming as an option for next generation?
Evolution: Conflict to Sustainable Management
BFCP (2010-2012)Roll out of Burren Farming for
Conservation ProgrammeTargeted payments for ecosystem
services (PES) scheme Payment for specific outputs
BurrenLIFE (2004-2009)
Partnership between agriculture and conservation
A sustainable model for the agricultural management of Natura 2000
Marrying science with traditional knowledge
Agri-env.scheme (1995-present)
Payment for restrictions
Little targeting in national scheme
Agriculture intensification and abandonment persists
Research-importance of farming to nature value
Habitats Directive Designation (1997-1999)
Restrictions on farming practices
Broad agri-env scheme (REPS)
No further land improvement works
Burren Farming for Conservation Programme:
A new model for the sustainable agricultural
management of the Burren
www.burrenlife.com
Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (BFCP)Recognises the role that farmers and farming practices play in the conservation of habitats.
Objectives:
Sustainable agricultural management of high nature value farmland in the Burren. Contribute to the positive management of the Burren landscape and its cultural heritage.
Contribute to improvements in water quality and water usage efficiency in the Burren region.
Article 68 funding Article 68.1 (a) (i) of Council Regulation (EC) 73/2009 Provision for the use of unused Single Payment
Programme funds for specific types of farming important for the protection or enhancement of the environment
Made possible as a result of close working partnership between all stakeholders developed through BurrenLIFE
Timing crucial: maintain momentum of BurrenLIFE €1million per annum (payment to farmers) Administration costs paid by National Parks and
Wildlife Service (state funded) - Authority with responsibility for N2000
Key Principles of BFCP Open to all farmers: targets Natura 2000 sites
and undesignated areas of Annex 1 habitat. Programme participation voluntary but
competitive Payments calculated on the basis of work done Farmers contribute to the cost of any capital
works on their land. Rewards past positive management and
incentivises improvement in habitat quality.
Key Innovations3 simple, practical, output based measuresMeasure 1: bonus payment for production of high quality Annex 1 habitats
Eligible limestone grassland and associated habitats on the farm mapped and assessed by a trained farming for conservation advisor.
The conservation status of the grassland habitat in each field scored on a scale of 0 to 10 (no payment where silage feeding)
Per hectare payment Class 10 Class 9 Class 8 Class 7 Class 6 Class 5 Class 4 Class 3 Less than Class 3
0 – 40 hectares €100 €90 €80 €70 €60 €50 €40 €30 Nil 40-80 hectares €50 €45 €40 €35 €30 €25 €20 €15 Nil 80-120 hectares €25 €22.50 €20 €17.50 €15 €12.5 €10 €7.5 Nil
Field Scores Explained Principle: simple, transparent and reward
farmers skill in production of high quality Annex 1 habitats
Useful monitoring tool and value for money guarantee
Farmer: flexibility of management (guidelines available)
Habitat “health check” indicators Indicators adapted for different habitats of
the Burren
System devised by Dr. S. Parr
Habitat “Health Check” Indicators
System devised by Dr. S. Parr
Grazing (Sward Structure)
Litter
Bare ground/ErosionWater point damage
Feed site damage
Relating to Grazing & Stock Management
Weeds
Scrub encroachment
Purple moor-grass
Bracken
Relating to Undesirable or Invasive Species
Silage Feeding €0/haVery Undergrazed €30-40/ha
Well managed, few or no problems €90 or €100/ha
Field Scores (Year 1)
Incentive and flexibility to improve management Suggestions on management improvements included in farm
plan
Source: BFCP 2011
Key InnovationsMeasure 2: Site enhancement works
Works considered important by farmer and BFCP team for proper management of Annex 1 habitats.
Part funded by farmer (25%-75%) Tracks, water facilities, stone wall repair,
scrub control. Allocation of funding to farmer (detailed in
plan) Only paid when work is completed Farmers decision to carry out work Databases of 65 local workers
Key InnovationsSimplified Farm Plans
2 pages + supplementary resource material
Adoption of innovative solutions Replacing silage with concentrate feed Rainwater harvesters New Burren traditional style gate Solar powered electric fencing Solar powered water pumps
Knowledge Transfer and Advisory Service
“One stop shop” for Burren farming for conservation A focal point/hub for farming for conservation advise located in
heart of area. Base for project team Advisory Activities
– Identification of practices to maintain, enhance, restore nature value
– Advice on carrying out practices-farm planning and implementation
– Resource material and training– Financial support
Communication and organisation support – providing forum for organising joint actions and maintains lines of
communication between stakeholder
Is it Working? Demand: 350 farmers applied for approx 140 places Area under active management year 2
Encroaching scrub removal (45ha + 23.6km) Wall repair (19.4km) Gradual increase in habitat “health scores” from
year 1 to 2.
BFCP Area (ha)
SAC Area (ha)
% SAC in BFCP
Black Head Poulsallagh SAC 2,183 5,572 39%
Moneen Mountain SAC 3,620 6,070 60%
East Burren Complex SAC 7,106 18,820 38%
Totals 13,256
Article 68 and current CAP supports for Natura 2000-DIFFICULTIES
1. Costings - income foregone and costs incurred a) loss making extensive farming on marginal land??b) Relatively poor conservation value grasslands on intensive
farms in broad agri-env scheme get 3 times more payment/ha??
2. UAA no payments for scrub mosaics, limestone pavement (priority habitats maintained by extensive grazing)
3. GAEC rules: more costly to abide by rules (e.g. Control of unwanted vegetation) and receive less direct payments on average than more intensive areas
Article 68 and current CAP supports for Natura 2000-ALTERNATIVES
1. Payment for ecosystem service provision: Opportunity costs + transaction costs + incentive/reward payment. Principle “fair days pay for a fair days work”
2. Recognise through payment structure that all farmed annex 1 habitats should be paid on gross area (similar to current rules for landscape features i.e. hedgerows and other field boundaries of landscape value eligible for payment)
3. “Twin track” approach to CAP (appropriate rules for each track)a) Track 1: intensive farming areas-food and fibre production focus areas
(provisioning ecosystem services);
b) Track 2: extensive farming areas-climate change mitigation, biodiversity, landscape and water focus areas (support and regulatory ecosystem services).
Main success factors applicable across N2000 network
Participatory-partnership approach works Needs to be:
– Targeted to specific area– Adaptive, flexible management approach – Well researched – knowledge based (science and tradition)– Farmer focused
“One stop shop-project office” for knowledge transfer/advisory services and administration located in community
Output based payment system ensures quality product Mainstreaming farming for conservation- requires resources Continued research and monitoring. Farming in N2000 not
fossilised but continues to improve and innovate, producing the highest quality environmental product
Knowledge based, adaptive BFCP
ParticipatorySupport &
Build Expertise
chan
ge?
Resource
Resource
• High Nature Value Farmland – Ecosystem Services• Conservation grade beef, lamb, dairy products• Eco-tourism, Education and Awareness Raising• Vibrant Rural Economy
Farming for Conservation-Products
The environment is the new product, we can provide it and there is a
market
Acknowledgements
BFCP Project Team143 BFCP farmersDr. Brendan DunfordDr. Sharon ParrDr. Bryony Wiliams12 BFCP farm advisors65 farming for conservation contractorsThe BurrenLIFE partnership (NPWS, Teagasc,
BurrenIFA) Support of wider communityFunded and supported by European tax payers.
Phased mainstreaming of farming for conservation_Funding?
Phase 1 (2005-2010)BurrenLIFE (20 farms)
•Funding•SFP (pillar 1)•Agri-env (pillar 2)•LIFE funding
Phase 2 (2010-2012)BFCP (140 farms)
• Funding• SFP (pillar 1)• Agri-env (pillar
2)• Article 68 (pillar
1)
Phase 3 (2013-2020)BFCP (500+ farms)
• Funding• Management of
farmed Natura 2000 fully integrated into CAP supports?
• Dedicated funding for management of all Natura 2000?
