Grassland conservation options in AEOS from a results-based perspective

In a 2017 post, we outlined the main results from a publication (Ó hUallacháin et al., 2016) that compared the vegetation in three different options for grassland conservation under the Irish agri-environment scheme (Agri-Environment Option Scheme, AEOS). Here, we outline the main results of that study, and develop it further with a more detailed interpretation of that work from the perspective of results-based approaches. Across the three grassland options in that study, the options had the effect of preferentially enrolling and financially rewarding lower-quality vegetation. We show how a results-based approach could better target, incentivise and reward the provision of higher-quality vegetation, and make a greater contribution to biodiversity conservation.

SmartAgriHubs: pilot incorporation of farmland habitats in Teagasc National Farm Survey

Teagasc is investigating how to incorporate biodiversity into ~300 participant farms in the Teagasc National Farm Survey. This is being piloted as part of the EU SmartAgriHubs project, which focuses on digital innovation in the agrifood sector. Here, I briefly describe why biodiversity should be included in sustainability assessment, the aims of the pilot project and our methodology, and its potential contribution to improving biodiversity monitoring in farmland.

Report: Independent evaluation of environmental effects of GLAS

The Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) has been the Agri-Environment Scheme in Ireland over the RDP period 2014-2020. GLAS. A report from summer 2020 provides an evaluation of GLAS by an independent environmental consultancy. The report is available on the DAFM website here: Evaluation of the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS): Synthesis of evidence, and includes an Executive Summary and list of recommendations in addition to the main report. 

Methodology to include farmland habitats in sustainability assessments

A new Teagasc publication to be published in the Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research outlines the development of scalable methods to include farmland habitats in sustainability assessments. Here, I give a brief 'taster' of the content of that paper, and an overview of the approach that is based on categorising farmland habitats using satellite imagery. 

 

Farming for Nature: the role of Results-Based Payments 

A new book published by Teagasc and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) (www.teagasc.ie/farmingfornature) highlights several Irish case studies of results-based payments for biodiversity conservation.

 

 

The EU Biodiversity Strategy: on the path to biodiversity recovery by 2030

John Finn and Daire Ó hUallacháin

The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 has proposed a number of challenging targets that will inform policy, practice and research for the coming decades. Here, John Finn and Daire Ó hUallacháin highlight the main features of the Biodiversity Strategy, and focus on those that are most relevant to agriculture.