1 / 31

Farming and conservation A view from the western edge of Europe

James Moran. Farming and conservation A view from the western edge of Europe. Outline. The Burren . Evolving relationship between agriculture and Natura 2000 (Conflict to Partnership for a Sustainable F uture) The Burren Farming for Conservation Programme

chin
Download Presentation

Farming and conservation A view from the western edge of Europe

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. James Moran Farming and conservationA viewfromthe western edge of Europe

  2. 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

  3. The Burren • Approximately 720km2 • > 50% of area is Natura 2000

  4. Wetlands: Turloughs (3180) Calcareous fens (7210) Petrifying springs (7220) Limestone pavement (8240) Heaths and Grasslands: Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (FestucoBrometalia)(*important orchid sites) (6210) Alpine and Boreal heaths (4060)Juniperuscommunis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands (5130)Lowland hay meadows (6510)

  5. Farming in the Burren Semi-natural pastoral landscape dominated by extensive grazing systems

  6. Suckler Herds Beef Steers Cattle & Sheep Conventional & Organic Dairy Herds

  7. 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?

  8. Evolution: Conflict to Sustainable Management

  9. Burren Farming for Conservation Programme: A new model for the sustainable agricultural management of the Burren www.burrenlife.com

  10. 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.

  11. 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

  12. 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.

  13. Key Innovations 3 simple, practical, output based measures Measure 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)

  14. 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

  15. Habitat “Health Check” Indicators System devised by Dr. S. Parr

  16. Litter Feed site damage Grazing (Sward Structure) Bare ground/Erosion Water point damage Relating to Grazing & Stock Management

  17. Scrub encroachment Bracken Purple moor-grass Weeds Relating to Undesirable or Invasive Species

  18. Very Undergrazed €30-40/ha Silage Feeding €0/ha Well managed, few or no problems €90 or €100/ha

  19. Field Scores (Year 1) • Incentive and flexibility to improve management • Suggestions on management improvements included in farm plan Source: BFCP 2011

  20. Key Innovations Measure 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

  21. Key Innovations Simplified 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

  22. 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

  23. 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.

  24. Article 68 and current CAP supports for Natura 2000-DIFFICULTIES • Costings - income foregone and costs incurred • loss making extensive farming on marginal land?? • Relatively poor conservation value grasslands on intensive farms in broad agri-env scheme get 3 times more payment/ha?? • UAA no payments for scrub mosaics, limestone pavement (priority habitats maintained by extensive grazing) • 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

  25. Article 68 and current CAP supports for Natura 2000-ALTERNATIVES • Payment for ecosystem service provision: Opportunity costs + transaction costs + incentive/reward payment. Principle “fair days pay for a fair days work” • 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) • “Twin track” approach to CAP (appropriate rules for each track) • Track 1: intensive farming areas-food and fibre production focus areas (provisioning ecosystem services); • Track 2: extensive farming areas-climate change mitigation, biodiversity, landscape and water focus areas (support and regulatory ecosystem services).

  26. 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

  27. Knowledge based, adaptive BFCP Participatory change? Support & Resource Build Expertise Resource

  28. Farming for Conservation-Products High Nature Value Farmland – Ecosystem Services Conservation grade beef, lamb, dairy products Eco-tourism, Education and Awareness Raising Vibrant Rural Economy

  29. The environment is the new product, we can provide it and there is a market

  30. Acknowledgements • BFCP Project Team • 143 BFCP farmers • Dr. Brendan Dunford • Dr. Sharon Parr • Dr. Bryony Wiliams • 12 BFCP farm advisors • 65 farming for conservation contractors • The BurrenLIFE partnership (NPWS, Teagasc, BurrenIFA) • Support of wider community • Funded and supported by European tax payers.

  31. Phased mainstreaming of farming for conservation_Funding?

More Related