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Ireland’s Environment 2012
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Scheme, which had been the
principal agri-environment scheme
since 1994 but which was closed to
new entrants in July 2009. Achieving
and evaluating the environmental
effectiveness of agri-environment
policy is becoming increasingly
important. EPA-funded research,
such as the Ag-Biota project, along
with research by Teagasc, has
provided information to facilitate
and improve agri-environment
policy evaluation.
The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme was
launched in 2006 but curtailed
in April 2010 due to budgetary
constraints. To date 658 NPWS farm
plans on Natura 2000 sites have
been approved. NPWS farm plans
include specifically targeted measures
towards the conservation and
enhancement of suitable ecological
conditions for, among others, hen
harrier, corncrake, chough, geese,
eskers and upland commonages.
The single farm payment scheme
applies to all farmers and, through
mandatory cross-compliance,
requires farmers to maintain
their land in ‘good agricultural
and environmental condition’
and to comply with 19 Statutory
Management Requirements. These
include requirements relating to
birds, habitats, groundwater, sewage
sludge and nitrates.
Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure is defined
as
‘an interconnected network
of green space that conserves
natural ecosystem values and
functions and provides associated
benefits to human populations’
(Comhar, 2010). Such spaces
include woodlands, coastlines,
flood plains, hedgerows, city parks
and street trees, and the benefits
to humans they provide include
water purification, flood control,
carbon capture, food production and
recreation. Incorporation of green
infrastructure in spatial planning
and sectoral decision making
helps to prevent biodiversity loss
and fragmentation of ecosystems,
thus restoring, maintaining and
enhancing ecosystems and their
services. It will improve resilience and
adaptation to climate change and
enable greater connectivity between
ecosystems in protected areas and
the wider countryside. The European
Commission is to bring forward a
strategy on green infrastructure in
2012, and some local authorities
in Ireland are already incorporating
this concept in their development
planning (Fingal County Council,
2011). Due to its obligations under
the European Landscape Convention,
Ireland is preparing a National
Landscape Strategy which will also
have significant implications for
biodiversity.
Knowledge Base
In order for Ireland to assess
its contribution to preventing
biodiversity loss, it is important that
there is adequate knowledge of
national biodiversity. Knowledge
of the species occurring in Ireland
has improved in recent years. Major
surveys were carried out on terrestrial
and marine habitats, and research is
being carried out on many protected
species and habitats. An online atlas
of freshwater fish in Irish lakes was
launched by the National Biodiversity
Data Centre in 2010, and atlases are
being compiled for Irish mammals
and for birds.