We recently published an article in the Irish Journal of
Agricultural and Food Research entitled ‘A comparison of grassland vegetation from three agri-environment conservation measures’.
To our knowledge,
this was the first time that an Irish survey of grassland quality in different grassland
options has been published. It provides a useful insight into the types of
vegetation quality that one finds across the different grassland options, and
should be a springboard for further research that can explore this topic in
more detail. As a once-off survey, this research does not allow us to track
trends over time. We do not know whether the vegetation quality in these
options is increasing or decreasing over time – hence, we simply do not know
whether these options are helping to halt species decline in the sampled
fields. If the fields retain the same management over a 5-year period, then we
would be able to re-survey them and measure changes in vegetation quality over
time, and we would be able know their effects on species declines.
As a survey that
focused on vegetation quality only, we do not know the effect of these options
on other types of biodiversity e.g. birds, small mammals, butterflies, beetles
and, or soil animals and soil microbes.
Our research
article (like all research) had limitations, and we expand on these further
(below). But what did we learn from our research?
1.
In
general, sites enrolled in the Natura option were generally associated with high
vegetation quality. Sites in the Species Rich Grassland option were
intermediate between Natura and THM.
2. Sites
enrolled in the Traditional Hay Meadow option had quite variable vegetation richness
ranging from 17 to 47 plant species per site, with an average of 29 plant species
per site. Thus, compared to a recently reseeded or highly fertilised grassland,
these sites certainly had more plant species.
3.
For popular
and over-subscribed measures such as the grassland options, a method of
targeting to prioritise the inclusion of higher quality vegetation would be to increase the eligibility
criteria to access the THM or SRG options. This would increase the
cost-effectiveness *within* an option. Note that because one can increase the
cost-effectiveness does not necessarily mean that an option has no effect;
it just means that it could be more efficient.
4.
We
discuss how an output-based approach would provide a financial incentive for
improved environmental benefits – for example, linking more positive species indicators to higher payment. Our research provides an important opportunity to learn how
to improve these grassland options over time, but also to consider the kinds of
biodiversity objectives to be implemented in the wider countryside.
A recent media article in Farm Independent reported
this work with the headline, “GLAS scheme is not working, claim experts”. This
headline is not supported by the evidence presented in our research article. We
examined options in the AEOS scheme, and not the GLAS scheme. The AEOS scheme
addressed multiple objectives, of which biodiversity is one (albeit an
important one). Within the biodiversity objective, there are multiple different
measures and options. Of these, we have examined three different grassland
options. Thus, our research only addresses a fraction of the overall options/measures
of a single agri-environment scheme. The headline ‘The GLAS scheme is not
working’ simply cannot be concluded from the evidence presented in our article.
The following sub-title of the media article is much more
measured and although one could phrase it in a number of ways, is a more appropriate
reflection of the content of the original research article: “Measures aimed at protecting biodiversity
in grassland are not being targeted properly according to a new report by top
ecologists”. In the Conclusions section of the research article, we offer
suggestions on how the targeting of the grassland options could be improved. Our
research provides an important opportunity to learn how to improve these
grassland options over time, but also to consider the kinds of biodiversity
objectives to be implemented in the wider countryside.
The media article states that “Despite millions being paid
to farmers to maintain species of rich grasslands, the report by Teagasc and
UCD experts for the Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research concludes
that GLAS is having little benefit in halting species decline.” This
statement cannot be concluded from the evidence presented in our article. Our
study was limited in scope, and our research does not provide evidence with
which to assess the specific question of whether “GLAS is having little benefit
in halting species decline”. We only looked at vegetation, and not other
wildlife groups. We did not do a temporal analysis that allows us to infer trends over time. As stated in
the research article, on the basis of expectations from other research, we
would not expect the management of Traditional Hay Meadow and Species Rich
Grassland options to *increase* species richness (or they would do so
only very slowly).
The media article
also states that “…research has shown that the payments did not halt the
decline in these environmentally valuable areas.” We did not conduct a
spatially representative sample that would allow us to conclude on whether the
area of species-rich grassland was declining or not. Such research would be
very valuable, but it was not the objective of this study.
Halting the decline of biodiversity and ecosystem services
is now a priority environmental objective for the Rural Develop Programme,
arising from the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Assessment of the effectiveness of
agri-environment schemes in halting biodiversity decline is an important issue,
and is the yardstick by which a lot of agri-environment schemes will be
evaluated by the EU Commission. The contribution of an agri-environment scheme
to halting the decline in biodiversity would only be achieved through the
aggregate effect of multiple measures across a scheme. Assessment of this
effect would require a major research effort across all of the biodiversity
options within a scheme. To
highlight the importance of a whole-scheme analysis, the positive effects of schemes such as REPS, GLAS and AEOS may also be
achieved as much through their impacts on farm structures as through the
specific measures and options of the scheme. (Although the latter certainly
contribute, and should be as cost-effective as possible.) The contribution of
agri-environment schemes to farm incomes can be an important contributory
factor to the financial viability of farming in a way that protects and
enhances farmland habitats. In the absence of agri-environment schemes,
widespread abandonment of high nature value farmland (or its intensification) could
be the only alternative for many farms.
Note also that
the comment in relation to "undemanding eligibility criteria, coupled with
under-researched management prescriptions, are unlikely to result in an
increase in positive indicator species” specifically referred to the
Traditional Hay Meadow option in AEOS (in the Conclusion section of the article).
Agri-environment
schemes are complex, and difficult to design, to implement and to measure their
environmental effectiveness. Across Europe, there has until recently been a
general lack of research on the effectiveness of these schemes. Where research
has been undertaken, it is clear that positive effects on biodiversity can be
achieved, but require a high degree of careful design and implementation.
It is only by doing this kind of research that we can detect any
shortcomings, and only then can we learn to improve agri-environment schemes so
that they deliver for farmers, and deliver for the environment. (Note that DAFM have contracted ADAS to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of GLAS, as part of a 5-year project, beginning with a literature review.)
This is one of
a limited number of research investigations of the effectiveness of Irish agri-environment
schemes, and we are pleased to be able to contribute to this important topic.
However, we are also very aware of the limitations (and the benefits) of the
specific research project that is discussed here. We hope that this post helps
to explain this in more detail.
UPDATE, 27 January, 2017: immediately after contacting @farm_ireland, they changed the title of the online article to the following: 'Performance of grassland biodiversity measures can be enhanced through improved targeting'.
We also contacted Darragh McCullough in relation to the article and title, but received no response.
Ó hUallacháin, D., Finn, J.A., Keogh, B., Fritch, R.,
Sheridan, H. 2016. A comparison of grassland vegetation from three agri-environment conservation measures. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food
Research 55(2): 176-191.
Some of our other related research on agri-environment schemes
Finn, J.A. and Ó hUallacháin, D. 2012. A review of evidence for the environmental effectiveness of Ireland’s Rural Environmental ProtectionScheme. Biology and Environment 112B: 1-24. An Open Access version of this paper is available from the Teagasc repository, T-Stór. Click here for access to this article (requires sign-in).
Matin, S., Sullivan, C.A., Ó hUallacháin, D., Meredith, D.,
Moran, J., Finn, J.A., Green, S. (2016) Predicted distribution of High Nature
Value farmland in the Republic of Ireland. Journal of Maps
Primdahl, J., Vesterager, J.P.,
Finn, J.A., Vlahos, G. Kristensen, L. and Vejre, H. 2010. Current use of impact
models for agri-environment schemes and potential for improvements of policy
design and assessment. Journal of
Environmental Management 91: 1245-1254.
Finn, J.A., Bartolini, F., Kurz, I., Bourke, D. and Viaggi
D. 2009. Ex post environmental evaluation of agri-environmental schemes using
experts’ judgements and multicriteria analysis. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 52: 717-737.
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