The proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in Wales is published

Hannah Woodall, Land Use Policy Officer for RSPB Cymru, summarises the key goals and ambitions for the new Sustainable Farming Scheme in Wales.

RSPB Cymru very much welcomes Welsh Government’s proposals for its new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) to use taxpayers’ money to help farmers produce food sustainably, tackle the Climate and Nature Emergency and restore the ecosystems we depend on. In our lifetimes, almost half our farmland birds, mammals, amphibians, insects and invertebrates have disappeared, along with more than 90% of enclosed, semi-natural grassland habitats. This is largely due to the unintended consequences of poorly thought-out farming policies.

The SFS proposals offer a hopeful future for farming and nature in Wales and with the return of the Royal Welsh Show this summer, these were the main topic of conversation.

These discussions were encouraging for both the farming and environmental sectors, despite some concerns in the detail of the scheme. We see the next steps of consultation and piloting, as we work toward full transition by 2029, as an opportunity to work with farmers and other organisations, to ensure the new scheme delivers a sustainable future for people, nature and climate.

Hay Meadow (c) RSPB Cymru 

Having struggled to get any meaningful benefits for nature through existing farming payments and schemes its hugely encouraging to see Welsh Government propose a minimum of 10% of all farm land should be managed for nature in future. Our work shows this is what’s needed to restore much of our farmland nature. However, to be effective the 10% must be well-managed and made up of a mix of the following key habitats to maintain and replace those lost across Wales:

• All existing semi-natural habitats, which must be retained and well-managed.
• Well-managed hedgerows, field margins, stream-side corridors, trees and scrub.
• Flower rich habitats, including flowering semi-natural habitats e.g., traditional hay meadows and/or new flower rich grasslands and herbal leys.
• Seed rich habitats to replace winter stubbles, which many of our birds, like yellowhammer, depend on.
• Ponds and other wet features.

With the right support and guidance every farm in Wales should be able to manage at least 10% of land well for nature. This would create a mosaic of habitats across Wales supporting a rich diversity of wildlife once more.

Image: curlew, (c) Andy Hay (RSPB images) 

We also welcome the proposal to restore peatlands as these are hugely valuable habitats that as well storing water and locking up atmospheric carbon support a range of special wildlife that depend on these areas to thrive. It’s also encouraging that the proposals state that important sites for nature such as SSSIs and rare like curlew should benefit. We look forward to working with Government to make its new scheme is a success for all nature across Wales.

Clearly the Sustainable Farming Scheme must also ensure we continue to produce high quality food. We firmly believe that paying farmers to tackle climate change and restore nature, is the best way of ensuring we can produce food now and in the future. Restoring nature will restore ecosystems, making farming and food production more resilient.

We realise there is still a lot of work to do before the details of the new scheme are finalised and understand the importance of continued advocacy around the 10% habitat management, ensuring the important detail of what habitat and where is clearly communicated. There are also still important questions to answer, including:

• How much money will farmers be paid?
• How will they receive appropriate advice and guidance to make sure they strike the right balance between production and nature?
• How will a Wales wide transition from the current support system to the Sustainable Farming Scheme be implemented fairly and effectively?

Ffridd (c) RSPB Cymru

Government clearly views the new scheme as an important means of achieving its woodland creation targets to tackle climate change. We are keen to learn how the new scheme will ensure the right tree in the right place to safeguard valuable wildlife habitats and our most productive agricultural land.

We firmly believe that investing in nature and tackling climate change is also an investment in farming and the well-being of this and future generations. We’ve got one chance to get this right and Welsh Government’s proposals for its new SFS are a big step in the right direction.

For further information, please contact: hannah.woodall@rspb.org.uk