Ecosystem protection
Agricultural land is a major primary habitat for wild species of plants and animals, in particular for birds and insects. Declines in wild species due to agriculture can be attributed to changes in the quality of habitat in the farmland, the use of pesticides and fertilisers, changes to the water tables and river flows and clearance of native vegetation.
The introduction of European production subsidies fuelled intensive farming methods. There were no payments and limited requirements for the farms to comply with any environmental criteria. The emphasis was on production, resulting in wine lakes, butter mountains etc. This policy was driven by governments to produce plentiful, cheap food. The whole process has now been reversed, with environmental issues taking centre stage, again driven by the EU and government.
High Conservation Value (HCV) areas are critical areas in a landscape which need to be appropriately managed in order to maintain or enhance High Conservation Values. Any habitat type – boreal, temperate or tropical, natural or modified by humans, can potentially be designated an HCV area, because HCV designation relies solely on the presence of High Conservation Values within the habitat.
In practice
Natural habitat preservation
Dempsey Beef Farm, Ireland
The owner of this farm has planted one hectare of ‘Linnet’ (Land Invested in Nature, Natural Eco-Tillage). This is a habitat which has been sown in 4 metre wide strips, with oats and kale. Once planted, this area is left in a completely natural state with no application of chemicals or fertilisers and no harvesting carried out. These areas provide important food sources for birds and other wildlife, especially in areas dominated by grassland. It has been noted that the area is used by a great number and variety of birds throughout the season.
The farm also has another one hectare listed under REPS habitats. This area includes field margins, hedgerows and watercourses, and is particularly important for birds and wildlife. These are all marked on the farm’s REPS map and there are severe penalties for interfering with these habitats.
Go to case study »Beef – Dempsey Farm, Ireland