Conservation
Agri - environment schemes
The majority of land, including peatland, in Northern Ireland
is owned and managed by private landowners, including farmers.
The protection and conservation of many peatland sites is
therefore dependent upon the voluntary undertaking of good
agricultural practice by these land managers.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development (DARD) has a set of agri-environment schemes
voluntary schemes aimed at encouraging farmers to adopt or
continue environmentally-sensitive farming practices. Schemes
include the Countryside Management Scheme
(CMS) and the Environmentally Sensitive
Areas (ESA) Scheme. Within these schemes there are
a number of priority habitats including:
- Heather moorland
- lowland raised bog
- breeding wader sites
- wetlands
- archaeological features
Agri-environment schemes are whole farm schemes which run
for up to 10 years. Participants receive an annual payment
based on land type and classification. Uptake of both voluntary
schemes, which encourage the sensitive management of peatland,
is contributing to the conservation of peatlands in Northern
Ireland.
Further information on agri-environment schemes can be obtained
from Countryside Management Branch of Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development (DARD).
