project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme (SUAS)
Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme (SUAS)
Context
The unenclosed land in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands is of high value for biodiversity and is of European conservation importance for habitats, species and birds. This is recognised by the designation of a substantial area of the uplands region as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA). Recent research carried out in the Wicklow/ Dublin uplands however has identified the poor-to-bad conservation status of the area and the uplands farmer’s attitudes, understanding and responses to it.
The SUAS pilot builds on the experiences of past and on-going projects including the Burren Programme, KerryLife and AranLife. These have and continue to show the value of providing farmers with difficult management challenges, a vision of the desired result and allowing them flexibility in how they develop solutions. The SUAS pilot will foster and grow the existing stakeholder ownership of the local challenges and will provide a flexible supporting framework to assist them in achieving solutions.
Objectives
The objective of the five-year, locally led pilot, is to develop practical solutions that will address the complex agricultural, environmental and socio-economic challenges associated with the land management of commonages and farms on the Wicklow/Dublin uplands.
The project is designed to get farmers back grazing and managing the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands in a sustainable manner which will improve habitat quality, biodiversity value and agricultural productivity.
The project will grow stakeholder ownership of the local challenges and provide a flexible supporting framework to assist them in developing solutions.
Objectives
The objective of the five-year, locally led pilot, is to develop practical solutions that will address the complex agricultural, environmental and socio-economic challenges associated with the land management of commonages and farms on the Wicklow/Dublin uplands.
The project is designed to get farmers back grazing and managing the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands in a sustainable manner which will improve habitat quality, biodiversity value and agricultural productivity.
The project will grow stakeholder ownership of the local challenges and provide a flexible supporting framework to assist them in developing solutions.
Activities
Establishment of 5 Commonage Groups (CGs) with their own constitutions. Each CG and 2 upland farmers will develop, implement and evaluate their commonage or upland farm management plans. The plans will integrate activities aimed at improving upland habitats, protecting water quality & promoting more economically sustainable sheep farming. Progress from baselines towards agreed targets for each variable will be assessed annually. Farmer’s time inputs & direct costs associated with the implementation of agreed measures to address habitats will be recorded. An auction-based payment scheme to incentivise farmers develop & evaluate specific solutions to challenges on their commonages/farms.
Activities
Establishment of 5 Commonage Groups (CGs) with their own constitutions. Each CG and 2 upland farmers will develop, implement and evaluate their commonage or upland farm management plans. The plans will integrate activities aimed at improving upland habitats, protecting water quality & promoting more economically sustainable sheep farming. Progress from baselines towards agreed targets for each variable will be assessed annually. Farmer’s time inputs & direct costs associated with the implementation of agreed measures to address habitats will be recorded. An auction-based payment scheme to incentivise farmers develop & evaluate specific solutions to challenges on their commonages/farms.
Additional information
The SUAS pilot project is expected to deliver a model, complete with commonage/upland management handbook, for a locally led, targeted, adaptive, outcome based Agri-Environmental Scheme (AES) that can be adopted/implemented across all Irish commonages and upland areas.
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
- Dublin
- Other geographical location
- Mid-East
EUR 1 950 000.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
1 Practice Abstracts
The unenclosed land in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands is of high value for biodiversity and is of European conservation importance for habitats, species and birds. This is recognised by the designation of a substantial area of the uplands region as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA). Recent research carried out in the Wicklow/ Dublin uplands however has identified the poor-to-bad conservation status of the area and the uplands farmer’s attitudes, understanding and responses to it. The project aims to address the complex agricultural, environmental and socioeconomic challenges associated with the management of commonages and farms in the Wicklow/Dublin uplands through the development of an innovative yet practical, locally-led pilot framework.
The unenclosed land in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands is of high value for biodiversity and is of European conservation importance for habitats, species and birds. This is recognised by the designation of a substantial area of the uplands region as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA). Recent research carried out in the Wicklow/ Dublin uplands however has identified the poor-to-bad conservation status of the area and the uplands farmer’s attitudes, understanding and responses to it. The project aims to address the complex agricultural, environmental and socioeconomic challenges associated with the management of commonages and farms in the Wicklow/Dublin uplands through the development of an innovative yet practical, locally-led pilot framework.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Pat Dunne
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Catherine Keena, Teagasc
Project partner
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Dr Monica Gorman, School of Agriculture & Food Science
Project partner
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IFAC Audit services Ltd
Project partner
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Larry O’Loughlin, Communications and Dissemination
Project partner
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Local Authority Waters & Communities Office (LAWCO
Project partner
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Owen Carton, Project Implementation & Management
Project partner
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Sean Byrne, Uplands Farmer & Wicklow Uplands Council (WUC)
Project partner
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Teagasc
Project partner
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University College Dublin (UCD)
Project partner
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Wicklow Mountains National Park (WMNP) & National Parks and Wildlife Service(NPWS
Project partner
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Wicklow Uplands Council (WUC)
Project partner