The scheme supports farmers and non-farmer landowners to conserve and restore nature on their land based on bespoke advice, and pays them for the results they deliver, and interested participants are invited to apply by December 5, 2024.
Since it began in 2006, over 1,000 farm plans have been created, covering a variety of nature interests, from birds and other species of conservation concern to a range of habitats including eskers, coastal dunes, fens, peatlands and uplands and turloughs. Currently, there are 327 farm plans across the country. In the coming tranche, it is anticipated that approximately 200 additional plans will be designed.
Minister Noonan has encouraged landowners to join the scheme: “The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme is hugely impactful – both for nature and for the people doing the work to conserve it. It shows us what can be achieved when we work together. I’m pleased to have been able to grow the scheme from 50 farm plans when I took office to over 300 now, and delighted to be able increase that number even further this year. It’s exciting to see the project diversify as well, with a new stream of one-off ‘Actions for Nature’, which I’m sure will improve accessibility for a wide range of farmers and landowners,” he said. This new call sees a new approach within the scheme, where applicants can apply for either the traditional approach (typically five-year ongoing management plans) or one-off ‘Actions for Nature’ (e.g. nature pond creation, access management, fencing, encouraging saving of seeds for nature for grasslands and woodlands, addressing alien invasive species, grants towards conservation management tools, etc.).
How to apply:
Applications must be made using the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme application form available on www.npws.ie and from
Who should apply:
- The applicant does not need to be a farmer. Farmers or land managers who wish to manage land for nature should consider applying.
- Priority is offered to lands in designated sites, namely Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas, or where it can be confirmed habitats or species of conservation concern exist.
- Land managers who identify direct conservation needs where one-off ‘quick win’ actions for nature can be delivered.
- NPWS cannot facilitate or progress plans which would lead to a risk of double-funding, with participants in other agri-environmental schemes e.g. ACRES/LIFE/EIPs.