John Martin and Colum Delaney, Conservation Manager and Policy Advocacy Officer respectively at our Northern Ireland HQ, explain what you can do to help wildlife-friendly farming get the funding it needs.
We know that Northern Ireland’s wildlife is in trouble. The State of Nature report, launched in conjunction with 24 other environmental organisations in late May, painted a worrying picture of declines in a number of species. In particular, farmland birds have been amongst the hardest hit with approximately 50% declines since 1970. Iconic species such as, lapwing, curlew and yellowhammer are amongst the worst hit. Sadly the corncrake is now extinct in NI.
Three quarters of the NI countryside is farmed, meaning farmland makes up a really big part of the environment upon which our wildlife depends. Farming in a way that looks after nature, therefore, is one of the biggest steps we can take to turn around the current situation. We know this works. In east County Down for example, wildlife friendly farmers have helped boost numbers of endangered yellowhammers by a massive 79%, only possible because of important funding made available through N. Ireland’s Rural Development Programme.
This money, which also supports much other investment in our rural economies, comes from EU ‘Rural Development’ funds – a small proportion of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the most important pot of funding available for conservation in the UK. But in the European budget deal agreed earlier this year these funds suffered disproportionate cuts.
Our Government must also step up if we are to collectively turn around the fortunes of our native wildlife - the alternative is a countryside devoid of nature. This would be devastating, not only for farmers and landowners who are privileged to share this space with wildlife, but also for our rural economies that rely on tourism focused on our wonderful natural heritage. Since 2010, the RSPB estimates that approximately £40 million has been cut from the wildlife-friendly farming part of Rural Development funds in N. Ireland. This is very worrying as wildlife-friendly farming schemes are key to delivering a countryside rich in wildlife and one of the only streams of funding improving the sustainability of the wider landscape.
We have only one opportunity to urge the NI Executive, and the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill in particular, to support our wildlife friendly farmers. The Minister will have the option to transfer (or ‘modulate’) up to 15% of funds into our Rural Development Programme from the much larger portion of CAP funds devoted to direct payments to farmers. Wildlife friendly farming schemes not only deliver for the natural environment but also for rural communities and the wider economy, making them excellent value for public money.
Together we can help to convince Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill that prioritising wildlife friendly farming is good for all of us! Please ask the Minister to transfer the maximum amount possible (15% of funds) into the Rural Development Programme. If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare please email the Minister now at private.office@dardni.gov.uk as a decision is likely to be made in the coming weeks.
Got questions? Leave a comment or email Colum.delaney@rspb.org.uk. You can help us monitor the progress of our campaign by sending a copy of your letter and any responses you get to the same email address.
Thanks for your support!