The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has announced a new call for applications to their Farm Plan Scheme.

Launched in 2006, the Farm Plan Scheme is designed to support farmers and land managers to:

• Deliver actions that benefit habitats and species in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), which are known collectively as Natura 2000 sites;

• To support farmland biodiversity more generally; and

• To provide a platform for the trial and development of new conservation approaches that can then be applied more widely.

Over the past 15 years, approximately 900 Plans have been delivered covering a variety of nature interests, from highly threatened birds such as Corncrake and Curlew and other species of conservation concern, to habitats such as species-rich grasslands, eskers, coastal dunes, fens and turloughs. Currently there are around 350 active Farm Plans across the country.

Urging landowners to apply to join the Scheme, Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, said: "I am very pleased to announce the opening of a new call for applications to the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme in 2023. This new call builds on the additional funding I have allocated to the scheme each year since 2020, and the many wonderful new farm plans which are now in operation across the country as a result.

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"The Farm Plan Scheme supports and rewards farmers and land managers to deliver positive farm management on some of Ireland's most important sites for biodiversity. The scheme has led to the creation of new solutions for nature conservation on farmland and delivers real benefits on the ground via direct action and positive changes in related policies. The scheme contributes as a significant part of Ireland's wider efforts through agri-environmental schemes to address biodiversity loss. I greatly encourage eligible parties to get involved in this excellent scheme and make an application. I look forward to seeing a new group of farmers and land managers working with us to farm for nature in the coming years."

How to apply

Applications must be made using the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme application form. The application for is available via:

• The NPWS website: www.npws.ie/farmers-and-landowners/schemes/npws-farm-plan-scheme

• Or contact the Agri-Ecology Unit directly for an application form, via email to [email protected]

NPWS is prioritising plans that can be described under the following three headings:

• Plans that will deliver the Conservation Objectives of sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas

• Intervention plans for sites where there is a need to intervene and address the management of a particular area of land in agreement with the landowner (this is typically led by NPWS)

• Research and Innovation plans, aimed at advancing knowledge and testing new methodologies to inform wider application

Who can apply?

• Those managing lands in sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas

• Those managing lands that support habitats and species of conservation concern

• Important note: the double funding of measures on the same parcels of land by other agri-environmental schemes (such as ACRES or LIFE Projects) is not permitted, i.e. it is not possible to pay for the same measure under two schemes on the same parcel of land.

As the budget is limited, it is likely not possible to accept all applicants and NPWS reserves the right to select plans it deems most worthy (for example, where the need for conservation action is the greatest, or where a plan offers a significant opportunity for learning to inform improved practice and/or policy). A list of targets that have been prioritised in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme is included in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme application form.

The deadline for applications is 10:00 on Friday 4th August 2023.