Monitoring & Evaluation of GLAS

1. Monitoring & Evaluation of GLAS • Dr. Pamela Boyle • AAI (Ecologist), AES Division • March 2019

2. Overview • Why • Background Regulations • Benefits • Who • How • Survey methodology • What • Initial Findings • Future plans An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

3. Green Low Carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme • Measure funded under the Rural Development Programme (RDP 2014-2020) • Promotes interventions for • Preservation of priority habitats & species • Climate change mitigation • Water quality • Greater targeting and stronger biodiversity focus than REPS/AEOS

4. GLAS Evaluation • Purpose of evaluation • Assess effectiveness of GLAS as a contributory measure towards sustainable agriculture under the RDP 2014-2020; • Assess its contribution towards the achievement of wider environmental objectives; and • Fulfil, in part at lest, Ireland's commitment towards the monitoring and evaluation requirements set out in the RDP • Contributes to improving future decisions and policymaking • CAP post 2020 An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

5. Who? • RSK ADAS Ltd • UKs largest independent provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy • Rural development services, research & development, policy advice • Awarded contract through competitive tender • Collaboration with Scott Cawley Ltd Environmental Consultancy (Dublin) An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

6. How • Detailed literature Review • Final report published June 2016 • Post-implementation evaluation of design/implementation • Combination of modelling & field data • Expected May 2019 • 5 year field-based evaluation of GLAS actions • Direct & Indirect impacts of actions on biodiversity, water quality & climate change • Baseline biodiversity report published March 2018

7. HowA) Detailed Literature Review • What way does the literature change or confirm the previous understanding of the measure(s) in question? • Does the literature help address any of the issues raised in the REPS Review or formal evaluations? • What are the implications of GLAS? • What are the implications for future agri-environment measure design? An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

8. How A) Detailed Literature Review – Main Findings Positives Challenges REPS - Less evidence of impact on biodiversity Uptake of GLAS by dairy sector not replicated – costings unattractive • REPS + Impact on water quality, GHG abatement, awareness of env issues within the farming community • Participation more attractive to lower income, extensive farmers BUT REPS4 attracted more intensive dairy farms • Results based programmes shown potential to achieve high biodiversity targets, cost effective, flexibility An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

9. HowB) Modelling Baseline Pollutant Losses from GLAS • Modelling pollutant emissions from agricultural land and effect of changes in land management • 3,200 WFD waterbody catchments • Forecast of potential long-term impact of GLAS management interventions • Various datasets e.g. Soil series, land cover, climate variables • Agricultural input e.g. Stocking rates, fertiliser management data An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

10. HowB) Modelling Baseline Pollutant Losses from GLAS • Pollutants measured N, P, Z, N20, CH4 • 32% agri land managed by farms in GLAS • Further work • Assess impacts of GLAS actions on agri pollutants • Scheme level vs. Catchment/National level • GLAS Vs. Non-GLAS dilution An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

11. HowC) Attitudinal Survey • GLAS participants vs. non-GLAS • Assessing impact of participation in GLAS on attitudes towards sustainable land management and environmental actions • Relates to field survey sample of over 300 GLAS farms and 100 farms outside the scheme An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

12. Baseline Findings – Attitudinal Survey • Drivers of participation • Financial: +income, +income stability, +sustainability for future • Experience of GLAS • + Feeling of being well informed on a range of GLAS topics, 73% willing to participate in future schemes • - Confusion re entry system, legislation and regulation • Context & previous scheme participation • 77% previously in AES • Approx 49% of farms with some Natura cover An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

13. Baseline Findings – Attitudinal Survey • General attitudes towards farming & environment • High levels of awareness • Sympathetic to environmental protection • Additionality of GLAS actions (changes due to participation) • High for PoW, riparian margins & arable grass margins • Low for hedgerows, commonages and THM • “Creation” vs “Maintenance” actions An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

14. Baseline Findings – Non-participants • More likely to be full time farmers • Average farm size larger than GLAS participants • Greater reliance on rented land • Higher percentage of income from agriculture An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

15. Baseline Findings – Non-participants • Less likely to have participated in previous or apply for future AES • Less sympathetic to environmental protection • More likely to think environmental problems resulting from agri practices are exaggerated by the media An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

16. Baseline Findings – Barriers to participation • Economic e.g. Payment levels considered too low • Process issues e.g. Scheme considered too complicated • Understanding of scheme e.g. Fear of inspections An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

17. HowC) Field Survey • Longitudinal (5 yr) evaluation of GLAS actions on biodiversity • Three field seasons (2017, 2018, 2020) • Climate change and water quality addressed through modelling • 30 sites targeting specific actions – 10 sites for Commonage • Year 1 survey – telephone implementation check for some • “Measures of Success” (MoS) • Derived from specific management requirements for individual actions based on knowledge of the individual ecology of a species/habitat An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

18. Baseline Findings – Implementation Check • 3/235 failed to complete action • 6/235 completed after date • Small number incorrectly implemented e.g. Bird box incorrectly sited An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

19. Baseline Findings – Field Survey • Implementation good • Vegetation quality good • Mixed findings for FH(PN) • Scrub encroachment • Sward diversity • Commonage good but some issues with bare peat An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

20. Baseline Findings – Bird actions • Well implemented • Variation in sward composition • - Hen Harrier/Breeding waders • Management prescriptions should address issues An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

21. Baseline Findings – Bird actions • Presence/Absence NOTMoS • BUT most birds noted on 10-20% of sites • Sig. Numbers of Finches and buntings incl. Yellowhammer & Reed Bunting using WBC Yellowhammer (male) Reed bunting (male) An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

22. Year Two Survey Effort • Resurvey of sites used for first year of study (where possible) • Field survey of ALL sample sites • Report due mid-2019

23. Year Two – Field Survey Actions An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

24. Year 2 – Survey Performance Site Level Across Sites Assess relative performance between different MoS • Number of MoS met vs. Max possible MoS achievable An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

25. Thank You • All published ADAS reports available on DAFM website https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/ruralenvironmentsustainability/ruraldevelopmentprogrammerdp2014-2020/ An RoinnTalmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine