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RSPB asks for safeguarding of funding to deliver sustainable farming
Last modified: 08 February 2012
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The RSPB believes that Northern Ireland’s farmers are well placed to lead the way in delivering the European Commission’s priorities of ‘Sustainable management of natural resources and climate action’. These priorities were highlighted in the recent DARD consultation on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) post 2013.
This recommendation was part of the RSPB’s response to the consultation asking for stakeholders’ opinions on what the European Commission sees as the way forward for agriculture in Europe.
“Agriculture in Northern Ireland faces many challenges, and the CAP must help farmers meet these challenges head on,” said John Martin, RSPB’s Land Use Policy Officer. “To do so, the CAP needs to enable farmers to run profitable and market-focused businesses, propel a rapid movement towards more sustainable land management, and award the provision of environmental public goods like biodiversity and water quality, which underpin long-term food security.”
The RSPB believes there is exceptionally good justification to spend more attention and funding on the natural environment within the context of EU agriculture. However, some of the proposals will need a certain amount of flexibility to ensure they actually deliver for the environment and farmers in Northern Ireland.
Part of the proposals for the future CAP includes a ‘greening’ element which will make up 30 per cent of farm payments. This includes new measures which the European Commission believes will help encourage biodiversity, mitigate climate change and help with water quality. From a NI perspective more regional discretion is needed to ensure that it protects our existing biodiversity.
Rural Development funds will be vitally important to secure more targeted environmental work on farms. “We are asking that the proposal to ring fence 25 per cent of funds for agri-environment MUST be inserted into the legal text,” continued John. “Without putting this in writing, society risks losing this incredibly valuable funding asset. We will also be seeking an increase in funding for agri-environment to help agriculture meet the challenges it faces in the future.
“This is especially important as we move closer to 2020, the target to stop biodiversity decline. Many of Northern Ireland farmers are ‘Stepping up for Nature’ through agri-environment schemes and this must continue well into the future.”
To view RSPB’s consultation response go to www.rspb.org.uk/northernireland