2021 FAS training for new advisers

SMR 2 & SMR 3

Patricia Torpey District Agricultural Inspector Integrated Controls Division Cross Compliance

AREA 1 – Environment, Climate Change and Good Agricultural Condition of Land 13 Statutory Management SMR 2 – Conservation of Wild Requirements (SMR) SMR 3 – Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna

An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine IRELAND

❖28 of land mammal ❖ Must ensure enough suitable habitat ❖>400 species of birds for all these species to flourish ❖>4,000 plant species ❖ Need the support of landowners ❖>12,000 species of

3 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine SMR 2: Conservation of Wild Birds

Birds Directive 2009/147/EC (79/409/EEC)

❖ Europe: > 500 species of wild birds Corncrake ❖ 32%: not in a good conservation status ❖ Birds Directive: aims to protect all of these 500 wild species naturally occurring in the EU

4 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Annex 1: Birds Directive

194 species and sub-species are particularly threatened. Member States must designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for their survival and the survival of all migratory bird species Ireland SPA sites are habitats for Annex ❖ SPA sites selected by NPWS 1 birds, e.g. upland, wet ❖ Most sites are over 100 hectares in size grassland and scrub, blanket ❖ 154 SPAs – SI’s formally designate each bogs and machairs SPA ❖ 570,000 hectares covered Yellowhammer Hen Harrier

Chough Breeding Curlew

5 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Annex 2: Birds Directive

82 bird species can be hunted. However, the hunting periods are limited and hunting is forbidden when birds are at their most vulnerable: during their return migration to nesting areas, reproduction and the raising of their chicks Wild game birds may be hunted at certain times of the year “Open Season” Pheasant Goose

Woodcock Duck

6 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Derogation to hunting limits

Magpie These birds can currently be Hooded (Grey) Crow Feral Pigeon captured or killed anywhere at any Rook time of the year

Wood Pigeon Jackdaw

Collared Dove 7 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Annex 3: Birds Directive

bans activities that directly threaten birds

For example ➢Deliberate killing or capture of birds ➢Destruction of birds’ nests and eggs and taking of birds’ eggs ➢Trading in live or dead birds ➢Deliberate disturbance of birds particularly during breeding and rearing

8 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Annex 4: Birds Directive provides for the sustainable management of hunting but Member States must outlaw all forms of non-selective and large scale killing of birds

For example: ➢ Snares ➢ Explosives ➢ Net/Traps ➢ Poisoned/anaesthetic bait

9 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine SPA: Activities Requiring Consent ARC-01 Reclamation, including infilling. ARC-02 Use of excavators, rock breakers, bulldozers, back hoes or use of any other hydraulically-powered excavation equipment. ARC-03 Blasting, drilling, dredging or otherwise removing or disturbing rock, minerals, mud, sand, gravel or other sediment. ARC-04 All activities relating to turf cutting and/or peat extraction. Landowners ARC-05 Cutting, uprooting or otherwise removing plants. [Consent is not required have been for harvesting of cultivated crops, or for grazing or mowing.] notified by ARC-06 Introduction, or re-introduction, of plants or not found in the area. NPWS of SPA [Consent is not required for the planting of crops on established reseeded grassland or cultivated land.] areas and associated ARC-07 Removal of geological specimens including rock samples, minerals or fossils. Activities ARC-08 Undertaking scientific research involving the collection and removal of Requiring biological material. ARC-09 Construction or alteration of tracks, paths, roads, bridges, culverts or Consent access routes. ARC-10 Construction, removal or alteration of fences, stone walls, hedgerows, banks or any field boundary other than temporary electric fencing. 10 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the[Consent Marine is not required for normal maintenance.] SMR 2: DAFM inspections

Applies to all areas of all farms with additional emphasis on SPAs It is the beneficiary’s responsibility to be aware if the land they declare (including rented land) for the BPS is within a SPA and to be aware of the particular requirements attaching

38 ARCs = basis of DAFM inspections

Are activities likely to cause a deterioration of habitats or any disturbances affecting birds? e.g. trimming/removing a hedgerow/scrub during the bird nesting season (1st Mar-31st Aug)

NPWS – cross reporting body

KEY: Farmer must have written consent for ARCs

11 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine SMR 3: Conservation of Natural Habitats, Wild Flora and Fauna Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC ➢ Cornerstone of Europe's nature conservation policy with the Birds Directive ➢ Establishes the EU wide Natura 2000 ecological network of protected areas ➢ >1,000 and plant species plus 200 habitat types listed

Petalwort

White Prominent Moth Sea Cliffs

12 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Key elements of the Habitats Directive

Annex 1: Member States must designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Annex 2: Certain habitats and species must be protected within SACs

Ireland ▪ SAC sites selected by NPWS ▪ 13,500 km2 designated

Heath Blanket Bog

Sand dunes

13 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine SAC’s In Ireland

Limestone Pavement

Machair

14 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Species for which habitats in Ireland are especially important

Freshwater Pearl Mussel

Salmon Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Otter

Kerry Slug Killarney Fern

15 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine SAC: Notifiable Actions 1. Causing erosion by any means (e.g. driving vehicles, riding horses etc.)

2. Grazing of livestock above a sustainable density (as defined in approved farm plans)

A Machair is strip of Landowners 3. Grazing by livestock treated within the previous week with a sandy, grassy, often pesticide which leaves persistent residues in the dung have been lime-rich land just 4. Supplementary feeding of stock (e.g. with hay, silage, concentrates, roots etc.) notified by above the high-water 5. Cropping or removal of plants NPWS of SAC SAND DUNES OR mark at a sandy shore: 6. Reclamation, infilling, ploughing or land drainage areas and MACHAIR. used as grazing or 7. Reseeding, planting of trees or any other species associated arable land found on 8. Application of fertiliser, lime or organic materials some of the north-west 9. Dumping, burning or storing any materials Notifiable coastlines often behind 10. Use of any pesticide or herbicide Actions dunes 11. Alteration of the banks, bed or flow of watercourses

12. Operation of commercial recreation facilities (e.g. pony trekking)

13. Introduction (or re-introduction) into the wild of plants or animals of species not currently found in the area 16 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 14. Any other activity of which notice may be given by the Minister from time to time SMR 3: DAFM Inspections

It is the beneficiary’s responsibility to know if the land they declare (including rented land) for the BPS is within a SAC designated area and to be aware of the particular requirements attaching

Have Notifiable Actions (NA) been carried out without the appropriate prior consent?

Where there is consent, did the works go beyond what was granted? e.g. land reclamation activities

NPWS – cross reporting body

KEY: Farmer must have written consent for NA

17 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Finding ARCs/NAs on NPWS website

18 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 19 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 20 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 21 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Scroll Down to ARCs

22 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Natura 2000 stats

SACs SPAs ➢ 423+ sites ➢ 154 sites ➢ 13,500 km2 ➢ 570,000 ha ➢ 65% land; 7% lake; 25% ➢ Equal parts land lake and marine marine Account for c. 15% of Ireland's land cover 30-40,000 farmers

23 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Further information

➢ DAFM ▪ www.agriculture.gov.ie ➢ NPWS.ie ▪ www.npws.ie ▪ Helpline 1800 405000 ➢ National Biodiversity Data Centre ▪ www.biodiversityireland.ie ➢ Birdwatch Ireland ▪ www.birdwatchireland.ie ➢ Invasive Species Ireland ▪ www.invasivespeciesireland.com

24 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Thank you

25 An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine