Guest blog by Colum Delaney, RSPB NI Policy Advocacy Officer
Since the vote to leave the European Union on 23 June, it’s been unclear if funding for important environmental initiatives would still be available for Northern Ireland. One such scheme is the agri-environment programme which is worth around £100million and incentivises farmers to farm in a way which benefits nature.
In 2011, approximately 12,000 farmers in Northern Ireland were in agri-environment schemes. This year the number has plummeted to less than 1,000, as farmers wait for a new scheme to open. Just think what those 11,000 farmers could be doing right now to help give nature a home on their land, if they had the support from government.
Thankfully, earlier this month Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed that the funding will be secured after ‘Brexit’. Many wildlife-friendly farmers undoubtedly breathed a huge sigh of relief, as this announcement means they will be eligible to apply for the delayed scheme which is due to open next February.
RSPB NI has been working hard to raise the issue of the threat to funding over the past number of months. We’ve worked closely with agri-businesses and farmers, helping them put forward the case for wildlife-friendly farming with the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister at Stormont, Michelle McIlveen MLA.
We have also partnered with the Ulster Farmers’ Union to pen a joint letter to the Minister. This letter highlighted the role agri-environment schemes play in halting the decline of wildlife in the wider countryside and its key role in encouraging farmers to farm in an environmentally sustainable manner, as well as providing an important income stream for land managers.
One area in which both organisations are seeking clarity on is ensuring that the new agri-environment agreements are funded for their five year contractual commitment, regardless of whether ‘Brexit’ happens within that period of time. Without this commitment we could see a repeat of the current situation, with farmers left without the financial support they need to carry out important work for wildlife on their land, in which financial support drops off a cliff and important wildlife work is left half-done.
We will continue to press the case together until full funding is secured to help our wildlife-friendly farmers continue their important work.