The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has issued a call for facilitators to run 'Group' projects for farmers participating in the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS).

Group projects aim to promote co-ordinated activity among EFS agreement holders to enhance environmental outcomes in certain areas; for example, an environmentally designated site, priority habitat or river catchment.

EFS Group projects will initially be introduced on a pilot basis later this year, and DAERA is encouraging proposals from individuals or organisations from the environmental, farming or other land management sectors, as well as service providers with environmental land management experience and suitable facilitation skills.

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Applications will be assessed against selection criteria, with successful applicants being offered a contract to deliver their proposed project.

Proposals are invited for pilot projects on environmentally designated sites, priority species, and specific river catchments. The river catchments are Donore, Co Antrim; Upper Lagan, Co Down; Blackstaff and Carrigs, Dundrum, Co Down.

Further details, including an application form, are available from the Agri-Environment section of the DAERA website. The closing date for applications is 3pm on Friday 05 May, 2017.

(JP/LM)