Expressions of interest sought from west Mayo farmers for results-based payment scheme
Wild Atlantic Nature have launched a call for expressions of interest from farmers in the Owenduff/Nephin Complex SAC area to participate in a new results-based payment scheme pilot.
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature aims to improve Ireland’s performance in conserving important habitats, and in particular to improve the conservation status in the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) network of blanket bog, a priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive.
Central to the project is a pilot Results Based Payment Scheme (RBPS) which will reward participating farmers for environmental services – including biodiversity, water quality and carbon storage and sequestration – by linking payments to the habitat quality.
Where a farmer (or group of farmers) wishes to carry out actions to improve the habitat quality, additional funding is available.
This rewards farmers for providing public services on their land whilst ensuring the flexibility to farm.
It also provides an opportunity to enhance the resilience of farming communities in and around Natura 2000 sites.
Speaking about the launch of the scheme, project manager Derek McLoughlin said: “We see this as an exciting opportunity for farmers to gain first-hand experience of how results-based approaches work.
“It is hoped that the results of the pilot can be used to inform future agri-environmental schemes including the Common Agricultural Policy”.
The pilot project will be first launched in the Owenduff/Nephin Complex SAC in 2021 for a limited number of participants who will be selected following receipt of expressions of interest.
It will extend to other project areas in 2022. It builds on the successes of other locally adapted programmes, including EU-funded LIFE and European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) to work with farmers, local communities and others to create resilience within rural communities in light of our biodiversity and climate crisis.
Project team member Gary Goggins explained: “The results-based approach adopted in this pilot creates a market for vital environmental services such as clean water and biodiversity.
“This approach differs from traditional agri-environment schemes where a flat-rate payment is made independent of quality. Linking payments to environmental quality is a win-win for farmers working in priority habitats and for nature in these areas.”
Farmers who wish to apply to participate in the programme simply need to complete and submit an Expression of Interest form to the project team.
The form is available from the project team or the website (www.wildatlanticnature.ie). The final selection of participants is based on selected criteria including extent of land in target sites, geographical spread and notable presence of ecologically important features.
Farmers with private and/or commonage land are welcome to apply. The closing date for expressions of interest is June 10.
Further details on the programme including are available on the project website (www.wildatlanticnature.ie).