hen harrier scheme.

tellmeabit

Hi All. Applied for the scheme back in Dec 17, but haven't been offered entry as yet. Received a text later to say I was in but then told that was an error when asked why I not in. Since heard of a number of farmers in my area whom have gotten into the scheme when they applied months later.. anyone know the selection criteria for this? The whole process has annoyed me now. And not getting answers from those involved. Do i just accept it

uck51js9zml2yt

Have you a link to this?

I bought a house with some land and understand that some of it is an SPA.
I need to do some digging on this.

coolshannagh28

There seems to be a fair bit of confusion around this scheme ; it seems to be locally led and this may explain some of the glitches that have arisen around criteria , membership and communication

White Clover

What's the story with getting land undesignated? I have ryegrass swards designated spa for protection of hen harrier. I had the local npws ranger out to walk the land and he said my land was wholly unsuitable for hen harrier nesting /hunting. The dept of arts, heritage and gaeltacht who are over the npws don't want to know.
Two thirds of my farm is seriously devalued while at the same time of no use to the hen harrier.
I would appreciate any help from anyone to sort out this mess.

Track9

Govt is obliged to have X acres under schemes & the maps were broad brush strokes in places , which might explain how your land is in the designation.
Might be best to take initiative as Govt Bodies v slow to delist any area of special designation or interest .
Consider doing an outline Bird study , particularly with ref to presence, or not of HH . ( they like longish coarse growth to hunt & hide in . Thats the HH not the Dept Officials ) Birdwatch ireland often have a good knowledge of the Local area & might do the report for reasonable price . I would then use this report to lobby the various govt bodies ( Duchas ) etc

Capercaillie

430 million in NDP was earmarked for farmers in Natura 2000 sites (including Hen harrier SACs). Under lobbying from IFA it was transferred to Pillar I payments. This money would have helped farmers greatly as vital source of income and incentivise good habitat for hen harrier.

Signpost

Try contacting https://www.facebook.com/Ifdl-Henharrier-206443946488840/ or https://www.facebook.com/jason.fitzgerald.77398? who seem to be the 'experts' on all things HH related

White Clover

Track9 wrote: »

Govt is obliged to have X acres under schemes & the maps were broad brush strokes in places , which might explain how your land is in the designation.
Might be best to take initiative as Govt Bodies v slow to delist any area of special designation or interest .
Consider doing an outline Bird study , particularly with ref to presence, or not of HH . ( they like longish coarse growth to hunt & hide in . Thats the HH not the Dept Officials ) Birdwatch ireland often have a good knowledge of the Local area & might do the report for reasonable price . I would then use this report to lobby the various govt bodies ( Duchas ) etc

Seems to me that npws and the dept are only interested in box ticking...they can tell Europe that they have x hectares designated, while not actually giving a shyte about the hen harrier.
If they were serious about the survival of the hen harrier, they would ensure that every hectare designated was suitable for hen harrier nesting and hunting.
I dont know anything about bird watch ireland, Could they be trusted to report truthfully? My experience of "conservationists" ie npws, so far is that they are absolutely disingenuous.

White Clover

Capercaillie wrote: »

430 million in NDP was earmarked for farmers in Natura 2000 sites (including Hen harrier SACs). Under lobbying from IFA it was transferred to Pillar I payments. This money would have helped farmers greatly as vital source of income and incentivise good habitat for hen harrier.

In my situation, It would be dishonest of me to draw down any of this money as my land is not a suitable habitat.

tellmeabit

My own place would be suitable and I regurally see the hh. But noticed that not all my ground is designated. I have a 1 ha field that is surrounded by other farmers land and my field is only one not. Makes no sense to me. Anyways..