More than four out of five farmers are aware of specific details relating to the proposed Nature Restoration Law according to an on-line survey conducted by the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association.

In a survey of almost 500 members: only 17% were unaware of the proposed law with proposals around the rewetting of drained peatlands at 41% being the issue of greatest awareness. Beyond this, there was a similar awareness around the threat to CAP payments at 22% and rewilding of our uplands at 20%.

A further question asked if there are any circumstances where they would consider rewetting or rewilding existing farmland. Here two-thirds of farmers (65%) stated that this is something they would never do, while 8% were willing to consider it with the remaining 27% not sure or indicating that this issue doesn’t apply to them.

Two other questions related to the potential funding of the proposed law. With no additional EU money to deliver on the Nature Restoration Law members were asked if they were aware of this and a staggering 86% indicated they were not aware of this.In a further question, they were asked if existing CAP monies should be used here. Eight out of ten farmers were totally opposed to this idea.

Commenting on this aspect of the survey INHFA President Vincent Roddy stated “How this corresponds with the feedback we have been getting through meetings and ongoing engagement with our members. And while it is positive that so many are aware, it also confirms the need for us all to do more in order to reach those that are unaware of this law.”

In another survey question regarding the possible risks to CAP payments resulting from the implementation of this law, the INHFA President outlined the need for greater awareness of this. Here 32% of respondents were aware of the possible risk but 59% were not with the remainder detailing how this doesn’t apply to them.

Commenting on the overall survey Vincent Roddy stressed “the need to keep in mind the fact that, for 17% of those that responded, this was the first knowledge they had of many of the concepts in this law.” On this basis, there is an increasing possibility that the opposition to suggestions as regards rewetting, rewilding, or the use of CAP payments to deliver on this law could be much higher than those outlined.”

In concluding Roddy was adamant that “the high level of opposition outlined in this survey is something our public representatives need to take on board because this is not going away.”

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have hit back at recent proposals outlined by Minister Eamon Ryan to CPO land for biodiversity and rewilding. The proposals made by Minister Ryan and detailed in Monday's Irish Examiner are according to INHFA President Vincent Roddy “deeply concerning and will be viewed by most farmers as a sinister land-grab that must be fought.”

It is, he added, “a blatant abuse of the CPO process which should only ever be used to acquire land for critical infrastructure projects of national importance.”

In discussing Minister Ryan’s comments Roddy questioned “if those with land adjoining or close to any of our National Parks can expect to see their lands targeted through a CPO process and what value will the State put on these lands.”

“With many of these lands already designated as special areas of conservation (SAC) or special protected areas (SPA’s) there is a distinct possibility that the State could try and acquire these lands at rock bottom prices” said Roddy.

Indeed, there is, he continued “a distinct possibility that this policy is already being pursued by the State as illustrated in a recent letter of offer to a farmer from the Department of Housing (which includes the National Parks & Wildlife Service) offering to buy the land for less than €500/acre.

In a process such as this, there is, stated the INHFA leader “a major issue with regard to property rights and the role played by the State in devaluing these lands through the implementation of the Natura 2000 designations.”
This he added “is further complicated by the fact that the State could be looking to take advantage of these devaluations either in the open marketplace or even more concerning through the CPO process,”

At this point it is stated Roddy “vital that Minister Ryan and his cabinet colleagues reassess the process by how the State acquires land. This is of particular concern on lands that they have helped to devalue. Failing this it is incumbent on our public representatives especially those across rural Ireland to ensure they do.”

Vincent Roddy, President of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, has expressed concerns about the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law, following recent engagement with Minister Malcom Noonan and National Parks and Wildlife officials. In highlighting the fact that the proposed law has no new dedicated EU funding for its implementation he outlined that “while this may seem like a setback, the fact that no dedicated fund exists will inevitably delay its implementation which could be a blessing in disguise for farmers.”

Through the meetings, it was made clear that any restoration measures that improve habitats would have to be maintained. For example, if a farmer re-wets a piece of land or indeed carries out other potential habitat measures within ACRES or another scheme and improves the habitat over the duration of the scheme, that habitat under the Nature Restoration Law may not be able to ever regress in its quality, even after scheme funding is ended.

This stated the INHFA President “could potentially prevent any other farming activities or even potential development from ever being carried out by the farmer or future generations on that ground or possibly adjoining grounds.” On this basis it is stressed Roddy “reasonable to assume that the Nature Restoration Law will be referenced in planning objections similar to the SAC Designations?”

It is, he continued, “time for the Minister and Government to clarify with the EU whether we have effectively signed up to a designation law under a different name." He also stresses “that it is important to ensure that any future policies and programs take into account the concerns of farmers and other stakeholders.”

In concluding the INHFA Leader stressed on the need for the government and the EU to take a closer look at the implications of the proposed Nature Restoration Law. “We believe it is vital that any future policies take into account the concerns of farmers and their communities and forward plans for future generations.”

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have welcomed the establishment of the Wool Council following a meeting of various stakeholders held in Athlone on Wednesday 5th April. Speaking on this INHFA President Vincent Roddy commended the work of INHFA members and many others in securing such an entity which he stated “will focus on the issues in the wool market and aim to address the poor return for sheep fleece.”

The market for wool has, he added, languished for many years and the hope is that this Council can provide viable options and novel routes for the re-purposing of this natural, local product.

Potential innovative approaches include

• Using wool as a natural fertiliser,
• Expanding its use in insulation,
• Garden pest control,
• Use as a natural fibre with superior thermal properties.

The creation of the Wool Council, will, maintained Roddy “allow a dedicated and continued focus being brought to bear on the uses of wool, bringing stakeholders together to develop solutions.”

INHFA will, he added “be represented, by Vice-President Phelim Molloy who has over his two years as Vice-President dedicated a great deal of time towards the establishment of an All-Island Wool Council which he always maintained can be a key component in addressing the poor market returns for wool.”

In concluding the INHFA President stressed the need for an improved budget “to enable the Wool Council to be an effective force in improving market opportunities and ultimately delivering a better price for wool.”

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association have questioned proposals detailed in the EU Nature Restoration Law on the rewetting of farmed peatlands and the possible rewilding of our hills. The Association maintains that the proposals as currently outlined are legally unsound and will create a legal double-bind for farmers.

Following on from their address to the Oireachtas Climate Action Committee, INHFA President Vincent Roddy detailed how the association have major concerns on proposals to rewet over 300,000ha of drained peatlands and other proposals in the Nature Restoration Law that could he stated “undermine farming activity across our hills and leave them ineligible for CAP payments.”

In relation to the proposals around rewetting Roddy maintained the science on this is far from final and “while there are some that see a major carbon windfall through the reduction of emissions from the rewetting of drained peatlands there is a major drawback in terms of methane released.” This was, he stressed, “clearly evidenced in an EPA Research Report. The results from this report confirmed that under certain scenarios any benefit obtained through reducing carbon emissions was off-set by the release of methane that would continue for centuries after the rewetting process.”

When assessing any science, it is stated Roddy “vital that that science is relevant to the country and land type. Currently the science used to support rewetting on farmland is based on international studies and here in Ireland, science based on the rewetting of cut-away peatlands that doesn’t have the build-up of organic material like drained peatlands have.”

The INHFA are, he continued “of the view that no action should commence until we get the findings from the scientific studies currently being conducted in Ireland on our farmed peatlands. The findings from these studies are possibly two years away but could, he stressed, “provide a valuable counterbalance to the existing view around the management of these lands.”

On the issue of rewilding the INHFA President pointed to Articles 3 and 4 of the EU Nature Restoration Law that he stated “is using the exact same language detailed in the EU Biodiversity Strategy to describe a new designation type called Strictly Protected.” This designation is, he added “at a level above the Serengeti National Park in Africa and where applied will see all human activity cease.”

In concluding Roddy maintained that the Nature Restoration proposal threatens the economic viability of thousands of farm families and rural communities and on this basis, it is he stressed “vital that all legal aspects relating to this are fully explored to ensure they comply with EU law as defined under the Treaty of Rome and all subsequent treaties.”