A few of us are involved in a little project looking at the potential for a results based approach to future agri-environment schemes in Northern Ireland. This would be a bit different to previous schemes here, such as EFS, which have largely been action based.
A good example of a results based approach has been tested in the west of Ireland, through the Peal Mussel Project.
In the Pearl Mussel Project land was scored for habitat quality and farmers received payments based on their habitat score and supporting payments for actions to improve habitat quality on their farm.
As part of the project we are looking to design a pilot scheme focused on improving water quality. We would be interested to hear peoples ideas and thoughts on how a pilot of a results based approach could work in Northern Ireland. What would encourage you to get your farm involved in such an approach and what would be off-putting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. All ideas very welcome!
I have a few fields banking the Ballinderry river, right now there is a good variety of flowers popping up. I’d love an app or website dedicated to helping me identify if these plants are good indicators of river health. I could then figure out if I was on the right track to creating the right habitat. If I could add photos to prove what’s there at different times of the year that might be useful in proving my habitat quality. I’m guessing as things change through the seasons the score might vary at different times if the year. A payment for the quality of my habitat sounds fair. However I worry if the farmers upstream are damaging the river and I can’t seem to create or upkeep my area that would be unfair. I don’t have the answer for getting around that! Ideally if farmers could group together to look after the river and create high scoring habitats we would all receive higher payments. Clusters will take work to pull together but could have the biggest impact and hopefully financially rewarded as such.
Think this seems a great idea to enhance and protect our water courses.