Wildlife scheme covers 8,420 acres as uptake grows

INTEREST in the National Parks and Wildlife Services farm-plan scheme was slow at the start. It is now increasing every year, with 238 farm plans approved to date, covering 8,420 hectares.

Landowners not in REPS are compensated for losses due to SAC, SPA or NHA designation of lands, or certain actions to benefit nature as agreed in a farm plan.

The average per farm is 35 hectares, or €5,000 per annum. The cost to the national exchequer is €1.17m per annum. The scheme is paid for by the national exchequer, under EU regulation and monitoring.