Farmers work to improve Irish flora

FARMERS will today celebrate International Biodiversity Day by pointing to the range of important work they are undertaking on their lands.

Almost 60,000 farmers participate in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), which rewards them for carrying out their farming activities in an environmentally friendly manner.

Accordingly, farmers taking part are making an enormous contribution to improving native flora, fauna and habitats. That interest was shown when more than 5,000 farmers attended 31 biodiversity events held by Teagasc in January and February.