project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Caomhnú Árann Managing the habitats of the Aran Islands to maximise their agricultural & ecological output
Caomhnú Árann Managing the habitats of the Aran Islands to maximise their agricultural & ecological output
Context
The Aran Islands contain some of Ireland’s and Europe’s scarcest and most valuable limestone pavement, Orchid rich calcareous grasslands and Machair habitat. However, due to relatively low, and narrowly based, farm incomes, this high priority habitat is not receiving adequate maintenance. Traditional farming practices and knowledge are being lost and non-economic units are being abandoned, leading to overgrowth and reversion to scrub and consequent loss of species diversity.
The causes of low farm unit income include:
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small and fragmented holdings,
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small, stone walled fields and narrow lanes which increase farming labour intensity;
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low productivity land,
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high labour intensity of optimal conservation methods.
Improving income on farms and thereby reducing habitat deterioration will require specific targeted measures. Targeted agri-environment programmes can have associated high administration costs and the potential of alternative food markets can be limited. Innovative solutions are required to address these issues which the Caomhnú Árann Project will test.
Objectives
The project aims to protect and restore priority habitat at lower costs and greater efficiency by exploring innovative:
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methods of habitat improvement and conservation,
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investigating alternative markets to minimise undergrazing, land abandonment and loss of traditional management systems and knowledge.
The project will examine:
(i) technologies that improve habitat assessment whilst reducing labour and administrative costs;
(ii) the potential of harvesting and marketing seed from high quality species rich grasslands;
(iii) phosphorus delivery to livestock which minimises effects on species richness and diversity &
(iv) enhancing engagement of all stakeholders involved.
Objectives
Féachann an togra le gnáthóga ardtosaíochta a chosaint agus a chur ar ais mar a bhí ar chostas níos ísle agus le breis éifeachtúlachta trí:
a) bhealaí nua d’fheabhsú agus do chaomhnú gnáthóg a scrúdú.
b) bhreathnú ar mhargaí malartacha ar mhaithe le íseal-innilt, tréigean talún agus caillteanas na gcóras bainistíochta agus an eolais traidisiúnta a laghdú.
Scrúdóidh an togra:
(i) teicneolaíochtaí a fheabhsaíonn measúnú gnáthóg agus a laghdaíonn costas oibre agus riaracháin.
(ii) an deis maidir le síolta na dtailte féaraigh speiceas-shaibhir d’ardchaighdeán a shábháil agus margadh a fháil dóibh &
(iv) bealaí le rannpháirtíocht na bpáirtithe leasmhara uilig a fheabhsú.
Activities
The project activities are:
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Developing a simplified habitat scoring system that enables farmers to self-assess the habitat status of land and take steps to improve the score
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Developing remote sensing tools for habitat scoring, work monitoring and assessment, and evaluation of self-assessment scores
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Examining low labour intensity habitat management; e.g. delivery of micro dosage herbicides
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Examining methods of improving farm income to reduce land abandonment.
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Demonstrating sustainable management of priority habitats, through the maintenance of optimal grazing levels.
Activities
Is iad seo a leanas gníomhaíochtaí an tionscadail:
• Córas scórála simplí do ghnáthóga a chur le chéile a thabharfaidh deis do na feirmeoirí stádas gnáthóg na talún a mheas dóibh féin agus tabhairt faoi chéimeanna leis an scór a fheabhsú
•Cian-uirlisí braiteachta a fhorbairt i leith scóráil gnáthóg, monatóireacht agus measúnú oibre agus meastóireacht ar na scóir féinmheasúnaithe
•Bealaí a bhféadfaí gnáthóga a bhainistiú gan mórán anró a scrúdú, m.sh. miosúir bheaga luibhicídí a bheith ann
•Bealaí a scrúdú a chuireadh le hioncam feirme le fonn tréigean talún a laghdú.
•Bainistiú inmharthana na ngnáthóg ardtosaíochta a léiriú trí na leibhéil is fearr innilte a choinneáil suas.
Additional information
The expected results and practical recommendations of the project are:
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An improvement in the conservation status of up to 1,500 hectares of priority habitats comprised of Limestone pavement, Orchid rich calcareous grasslands and Machair.
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Tested and evaluated methodologies for the sustainable management and utilisation of priority terrestrial Habitats Directive Annex 1 habitats of the Aran Islands.
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Development and implementation of a simplified scoring system for priority habitat assessment that farmers can use, to reduce the administrative cost of schemes and increase their applicability in other habitat types and areas.
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Development and implementation of remote sensing techniques for priority habitat assessment to reduce the labour and administrative costs of assessment and improve the objectivity and audit of assessment and work monitoring;
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Recommendations on the applicability of remote delivery of targeted treatment of invasive pasture plants;
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Recommendations on income improvement and diversification to maintain the integrity of farming on the Aran Islands through:
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innovative methods of targeting phosphorus deficiency in livestock; and
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sustainable harvesting and sale of species rich grassland seed from priority habitats.
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Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014IE06RDNP001 Ireland - Rural Development Programme (National)
Location
- Main geographical location
- West
EUR 1 450 000.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
1 Practice Abstracts
The Aran Islands contain some of Ireland’s and Europe’s scarcest and most valuable limestone pavement, Orchid rich calcareous grasslands and Machair habitat. However, because of relatively low farm income, small and fragmented holdings, low productivity land, high labour intensity of optimal conservation methods and other factors, this high priority habitat is not receiving adequate maintenance, with consequent loss of species diversity, overgrowth and reversion to scrub. High stone walls and limited machine access makes farming and conservation work time and labour intensive.
The Caomhnú Árann project aims to maintain and improve 1,500 hectares of these species rich grasslands by:
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using drones, aerial surveying, simplified scoring and farmer self-assessment to improve the quality and efficiency of: assessment; selection; and monitoring of conservation work, while lowering the operator and administrative costs.The project seeks to use local farmers as drone operators to reduce costs and provide farmers with additional skills;
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using drones to micro dose invasive pasture plants to reduce costs, labour and time;
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improving farm unit income (to reduce abandonment of land and maintain farm viability and population) by:
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developing sustainable harvesting, marketing and sale of seeds from species rich, priority habitat grasslands; and
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developing cost effective, targeted Phosphorous delivery to cattle to improve production while minimising Phosphorous fertilisation/contamination of the priority habitat grasslands;
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retaining traditional farming systems and knowledge; and
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maintaining engagement of key stakeholders involved in the management of priority habitats on the Aran Islands.
The Aran Islands contain some of Ireland’s and Europe’s scarcest and most valuable limestone pavement, Orchid rich calcareous grasslands and Machair habitat. However, because of relatively low farm income, small and fragmented holdings, low productivity land, high labour intensity of optimal conservation methods and other factors, this high priority habitat is not receiving adequate maintenance, with consequent loss of species diversity, overgrowth and reversion to scrub. High stone walls and limited machine access makes farming and conservation work time and labour intensive.
The Caomhnú Árann project aims to maintain and improve 1,500 hectares of these species rich grasslands by:
-
using drones, aerial surveying, simplified scoring and farmer self-assessment to improve the quality and efficiency of: assessment; selection; and monitoring of conservation work, while lowering the operator and administrative costs.The project seeks to use local farmers as drone operators to reduce costs and provide farmers with additional skills;
-
using drones to micro dose invasive pasture plants to reduce costs, labour and time;
-
improving farm unit income (to reduce abandonment of land and maintain farm viability and population) by:
-
developing sustainable harvesting, marketing and sale of seeds from species rich, priority habitat grasslands; and
-
developing cost effective, targeted Phosphorous delivery to cattle to improve production while minimising Phosphorous fertilisation/contamination of the priority habitat grasslands;
-
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retaining traditional farming systems and knowledge; and
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maintaining engagement of key stakeholders involved in the management of priority habitats on the Aran Islands.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Caomhnú Árann
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Aran Islands Farmers Group
Project partner
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Department of Culture Heritage & the Gaeltacht (DCHG) National parks & Wildlife Service
Project partner
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Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DCHG) Islands Division
Project partner
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Failte Ireland
Project partner
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Teagasc
Project partner