Northern Ireland has featured heavily in the Brexit negotiations and has proved to be one of the main sticking points for both the EU and the UK in defining our future relationship. As a charity that operates in all four corners of the UK, we believe that Brexit has to work for nature across all of its constituent parts. That is why I was delighted to sign up to the NI E-action which is aimed at ensuring DAERA put the environment at the heart of a future agricultural framework for NI. At time of writing the e-action has received almost 1200 responses which shows a great level of support from those wanting to see farming as one of the solutions to our declining wildlife in the wider countryside.
I wrote in a previous post about the agriculture bill getting over the first hurdle several weeks ago. This week (Wednesday) we will see it get another reading, and although we support the direction of travel of the bill (finance directed towards public goods), it is yet unclear how things will pan out in the rest of the UK. Agriculture policy, as a devolved responsibility, could take several forms across the UK. Indeed, this is to be encouraged as each constituent part has its own specific needs, however the environmental need has never been greater so it is vital to ensure that all four parts of the UK have a level ambition in that regard. Below, my colleague John Martin (Conservation Team Leader in NI) provides an update on what we are doing to make the case for nature friendly farming in NI.
Pictured at Parliament Buildings are from left to right: Patrick Casement OBE (Chair of NI Environment Link), Heather McLachlan (National Trust NI Director), Bob Brown OBE (National Trust Regional Advisory Board Chair), Joanne Sherwood (RSPBNI Director), Jack Kelly (Nature Friendly Farming Network), Philip Bell (Nature Friendly Farming Network) and Craig McGuicken (Chief Executive NI Environment Link). Also pictured at the back are Toby Edwards (National Trust) and Phil Carson (RSPB). (Kelvin Boyes; Press Eye)
RSPB NI is a leading member of the Nature Matters NI coalition and yesterday afternoon we, and our partner organisations (Nature Friendly Farming Network, the National Trust and Northern Ireland Environment Link) took the fight to Stormont to make these points and more. With agriculture being a devolved competency, there needs to be a sitting minister to sign off of any new policy or legislation for Northern Ireland. With the current NI Assembly defunct, it makes it difficult to get decision made, no matter how important. However, Members of the Legislative Assembly did come and meet with the coalition on the steps of Stormont and listen to our points about supporting nature friendly farming.
The current proposals in the agriculture bill will only apply to NI when we have a sitting NI Assembly, and even then it is likely that NI will want to put forward its own legislation. Nature Matters, and their supporters have sent a clear message to decision makers that a future agriculture policy with nature at its core is the best way to secure both farming and nature for the foreseeable future.
The only guarantee on funding that farmers have in NI has been until 2022. We need to have clarity here in NI on our direction of travel, especially as uncertainty surrounds whether we will have a hard or soft Brexit come March 2019. It is high time that NI decision makers showed clear leadership in beginning the transition towards a more sustainable agriculture industry, based on high quality food produced in a high-quality environment. Such a transition will help safeguard the natural environment on which food production depends, helping farmland to remain productive, profitable and resilient in the long term.
You have one more day to show your support to help farmers save nature in NI. Sign up to the e-action here
You can also take action to help farmers save nature in Wales and England