The Cuilcagh-Anierin Uplands Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is a blanket bog site covering 9,735 hectares (ha), comprising 11 habitats and 7 species protected under the Habitats and Birds Directives. The site is part of the EU INTERREG Collaborative Action for the Natura Network (CANN) project, a wetlands conservation project being delivered by partners in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
Erosion, peat-cutting, burning, invasive conifer encroachment and unmanaged recreation are the primary threats to the site.
Restoration actions are being driven through a results-based agri-environment payment scheme (RBPS) coordinated by LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature, whereby farmers receive funding in exchange for improving habitat quality and biodiversity.
The RBPS programme is delivered through the Common Agricultural Policy by locally based ACRES CP teams. WaterLANDS is assisting farmers undertake restoration measures to improve their RBPS payments. The focus is on integrated land use for the delivery of enhanced ecosystem services including water quality, climate regulation and biodiversity.
Work at the WaterLANDS Action Site in Ireland is being driven by the LIFE Integrated Project (IP) Wild Atlantic Nature. This is a nine-year environmental project (2021-2029) led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It aims to improve Ireland’s performance in conserving habitats, and in particular to improve the conservation status in the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Network of blanket bog, a priority habitat under the Habitats Directive. The primary focus is on 35 Natura 2000 sites in the northwest of Ireland. The project works with farmers and local communities to conserve and improve the quality of blanket bogs and associated habitats, and the ecosystem services they provide including clean water, carbon storage and biodiversity.
As part of the project, a pilot voluntary Results Based agri-environment Payment Scheme (RBPS) will be linked to the quality of the habitat, thereby putting the landowner, their skills, expertise and knowledge of their land central to the development of this project. The project will also implement a number of actions aimed at enhancing wider community engagement in the project. These include establishing local support groups across the project sites, developing and implementing community knowledge exchange programmes, administering community outreach activities, developing a schools education programme, supporting communities to develop and manage tourism and recreational activities and develop appropriate infrastructure. Another key action of the project will be a national campaign to enhance public awareness and appreciation of Ireland’s Natura 2000 network.
Other actions will include site surveys, ecological assessments, training for concrete conservation actions, control of invasive species, fire prevention, water management and monitoring and evaluation.
One of the key aims of LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature is to establish a voluntary pilot Results Based Payment Scheme (RBPS) linked to the quality of the habitat. This puts the landowner, their skills, expertise and knowledge of their land central to the development of this project. It creates a new market for the environmental services the landowner provides through their land management. In many cases, lands may already be delivering high quality environmental services. In other cases, landowners that wish to improve the environmental quality of their lands will be supported to achieve this. This provides an exciting opportunity for farmers in the project areas to realise and be celebrated for the vital role they play in our biodiversity and climate challenges. It also provides an opportunity to enhance the resilience of farming communities in and around Natura 2000 sites.