Locally-led (farmer-centered, results-based) Schemes - some learnings from Burren Life

The Burren

Farming and the Burren – a story that spans six millennia

Mid-1990’s: SAC Designations, Introduction of REPS Protecting the environment from negative farming activity

Restrictions on activity, important income, farmer concerns

Failure to effectively address growing environmental concerns…

Phase 1 (1998-2004) – Telling the Story

‘Farming and the Burren’ – the positive, but changing, role of farming

‘Farmers ‘a part of’ the Burren, not ‘apart from’ the Burren’

Phase 2 (2005-2010) EU LIFE Nature Project Developing, testing (& costing) solutions

Co-funded by Dept. of Agriculture, Food & the Marine & Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (NPWS)

Phase 3 (2010- present) – Implementing (and adapting) solutions

The Burren Life Programme

A ‘Hybrid’ AES: Paying for Actions and Results

Paying for Results

Well managed species-rich grazed habitats in good condition

• Farmers told what’s wanted, how they achieve it is up to them

• Better the management & condition, the higher the payment

• Payment determined using a tailored scoring system

Grazing

Litter

Bare ground/Erosion

Feed site damage

Relating to Grazing & Stock Management

Water point damage

Weeds

Scrub encroachment Bracken

Relating to ‘Problem’ Species

Molinia

Winterage: Ecological Integrity

Burren Lowland grassland: Conservation Value

Calculating the Field Score

Weighted score for each criterion

More points = more money. €0 - €144 per hectare

Example: Damage to natural water source. Scrub encroachment. Undergrazed. Score 4/10 €0/ha

Low scores? – Action needed! Farmer-nominates & co-funds relevant tasks

Well managed with few or no problems:

Score 8/10 €96/ha; Score 9/10 €119/ha; Score 10/10 €144/ha

-8.00%

-6.00%

-4.00%

-2.00%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Ch

an

ge

Score

Change in 'Health' Scores 2010 to 2014 Higher the score, the better the condition

Constraints/Challenges:

- Apathy

- Mistrust

- Thinking inside the box

- Funding and its continuity

- Managing expectations

- Upholding standards

- Conflicting policies and supports

Learnings – what works (thus far) in Burren model

Locally-led

Farmer-centered

Results-based

- More relevant in every way - Greater trust, ownership, responsibility - Targeted advice, support & oversight

- Better ‘buy in’, value & outcomes - Enables diversity of approach - Forces greater clarity and simplicity

- Value for (taxpayer’s) money - Incentivises effort & ingenuity - Way more flexibility for farmer - In-built monitoring

Adaptive - Always seek, & allow space to, improve

Research & Planning - Critical, but must be targeted & practical

- Analysis-paralysis? Learning by doing

Trust. Patience. Compromise. Commitment.

Burren Winterage Weekend Oct 22nd -25th 2015: celebrating our farming heritage