FAS Training 2017 SMR 2 SMR 3 Patricia

FAS Training 2017 SMR 2 & SMR 3 Patricia Torpey Integrated Controls Division

Cross Compliance 13 Statutory Management Requirements (SMR) AREA 1 – Environment, Climate Change and Good Agricultural Condition of Land SMR 2 – Conservation of Wild Birds SMR 3 – Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna

IRELAND § § 28 species of land mammal >400 species of birds >4, 000 plant species >12, 000 species of insect § § Must ensure enough suitable habitat for all these species to flourish Need the support of landowners

SMR 2 Conservation of Wild Birds Directive 2009/147/EC (79/409/EEC) ¡ ¡ ¡ Europe: > 500 species of wild birds 32%: not in a good conservation status Birds Directive: aims to protect all of these 500 wild bird species naturally occurring in the EU Corncrake

Key elements of Birds Directive Annex 1: 194 species and sub-species are particularly threatened. Member States must designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for their survival and the survival of all migratory bird species. Ireland ¡ SPA sites selected by NPWS ¡ Most sites are over 100 hectares in size ¡ 154 SPAs – SI’s formally designate each SPA ¡ 570, 000 hectares covered Yellowhammer Whinchat Breeding Curlew

Special Protection Areas SPA sites are habitats for Annex 1 birds, e. g. upland, wet grassland scrub, blanket bogs and machairs Chough Hen Harrier Puffin

SPAs and ARCs Ireland o Landowners have been notified by NPWS of SPA areas and Activities that Require Consent o 38 ARCs § e. g. reclamation, turf cutting, ploughing o ARCs are site specific and are listed in each SPA Statutory Instrument Puffin Check out: www. npws. ie/protected-sites/spa

Key elements of Birds Directive Annex 2: 82 bird species can be hunted. However, the hunting periods are limited and hunting is forbidden when birds are at their most vulnerable: during their return migration to nesting areas, reproduction and the raising of their chicks. Wild game birds may be hunted at certain times of the year “Open Season” Pheasant Duck Woodcock

Derogation to hunting limits Wood Pigeon Feral Pigeon Magpie These birds can currently be captured or killed anywhere at any time of the year Collared Dove Hooded (Grey) Crow Rook Jackdaw

Key elements of Birds Directive Annex 3: bans activities that directly threaten birds For example ¡ Deliberate killing or capture of birds ¡ Destruction of birds’ nests and eggs and taking of birds’ eggs ¡ Trading in live or dead birds ¡ Deliberate disturbance of birds particularly during breeding and rearing

Key elements of Birds Directive Annex 4: provides for the sustainable management of hunting but Member States must outlaw all forms of non-selective and large scale killing of birds For example: ¡ Snares ¡ Explosives ¡ Net/Traps ¡ Poisoned/anaesthetic bait

SMR 2 inspections SMR 2 Applies to all areas of all farms with additional emphasis on SPAs ARCs form the basis of DAFM inspections KEY: Farmer must have written consent for ARCs Kingfisher

SMR 2 inspections It is the beneficiary’s responsibility to be aware if the land they declare (including rented land) for the BPS is within a SPA and to be aware of the particular requirements attaching DAFM Inspections: • Have ARCs been carried out without the appropriate prior consent? • Are activities likely to cause a deterioration of habitats or any disturbances affecting birds? e. g. removing a landscape feature/scrub during the bird nesting season (1 st Mar-31 st Aug)

SPA Activities Requiring Consent ARC-01 ARC-02 Reclamation, including infilling. Use of excavators, rock breakers, bulldozers, back hoes or use of any other hydraulically -powered excavation equipment. ARC-03 Blasting, drilling, dredging or otherwise removing or disturbing rock, minerals, mud, sand, gravel or other sediment. ARC-04 All activities relating to turf cutting and/or peat extraction. ARC-05 Cutting, uprooting or otherwise removing plants. [Consent is not required for harvesting of cultivated crops, or for grazing or mowing. ] ARC-06 Introduction, or re-introduction, of plants or animals not found in the area. [Consent is not required for the planting of crops on established reseeded grassland or cultivated land. ] ARC-07 Removal of geological specimens including rock samples, minerals or fossils. ARC-08 Undertaking scientific research involving the collection and removal of biological material. Construction or alteration of tracks, paths, roads, bridges, culverts or access routes. ARC-09 ARC-10 Construction, removal or alteration of fences, stone walls, hedgerows, banks or any field boundary other than temporary electric fencing. [Consent is not required for normal maintenance. ]

SMR 3 Conservation of Natural Habitats Wild Flora and Fauna Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC o Cornerstone of Europe's nature conservation policy with the Birds Directive o Establishes the EU wide Natura 2000 ecological network of protected areas o >1, 000 animal and plant species plus 200 habitat types listed Petalwort White Prominent Moth. Natural Grassland Semi Sand Dune Sea Cliffs

Key elements of Habitats Directive Annex 1: Member States must designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Annex 2: Certain habitats and species must be protected within SACs Ireland ¡ SAC sites selected by NPWS ¡ 13, 500 km 2 designated Heath Blanket Bog Sand Dune

SAC’s In Ireland Limestone Pavement Machair Heath Sand Dune

Species for which habitats in Ireland are especially important Lesser Horseshoe Bat Freshwater Pearl Mussel Salmon Killarney Fern Kerry Slug Otter Yellow Marsh Saxifrage

SACs and NAs Ireland o Landowners have been notified by NPWS of designated SAC areas and Notifiable Actions (NAs) o 423 SACs – NAs being transformed into ARCs o Each habitat and species has its own NAs o NAs form the basis of DAFM inspections Check out: http: //webgis. npws. ie/npwsviewer/ www. npws. ie Figure of Eight Caterpillar

SAC Notifiable Actions SAND DUNES OR MACHAIR. A Machair is strip of sandy, grassy, often lime-rich land just above the high-water mark at a sandy shore: used as grazing or arable land found on some of the north-west coastlines often behind dunes 1. Causing erosion by any means (e. g. driving vehicles, riding horses etc. ) 2. Grazing of livestock above a sustainable density (as defined in approved farm plans) 3. Grazing by livestock treated within the previous week with a pesticide which leaves persistent residues in the dung 4. Supplementary feeding of stock (e. g. with hay, silage, concentrates, roots etc. ) 5. Cropping or removal of plants 6. Reclamation, infilling, ploughing or land drainage 7. Reseeding, planting of trees or any other species 8. Application of fertiliser, lime or organic materials 9. Dumping, burning or storing any materials 10. Use of any pesticide or herbicide 11. Alteration of the banks, bed or flow of watercourses 12. Operation of commercial recreation facilities (e. g. pony trekking) 13. Introduction (or re-introduction) into the wild of plants or animals of species not currently found in the area 14. Any other activity of which notice may be given by the Minister from time to time

SMR 3 inspections It is the beneficiary’s responsibility to know if the land they declare (including rented land) for the BPS is within a SAC designated area and to be aware of the particular requirements attaching DAFM Inspections: • Have ARCs been carried out without the appropriate prior consent? • Where there is consent, did the works go beyond what was granted? e. g. land reclamation activities Frog

Finding ARCs on NPWS website

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Natura 2000 stats SACs ¡ 423+ sites ¡ 13, 500 km 2 ¡ 65% land; 7% lake; 25% marine SPAs ¡ 154 sites ¡ 570, 000 ha ¡ Equal parts land lake and marine Account for c. 15% of Ireland's land cover 30 -40, 000 farmers

Further information ¡ DAFM Ø ¡ NPWS. ie Ø Ø ¡ www. biodiversityireland. ie Birdwatch Ireland Ø ¡ www. npws. ie Helpline 1800 405000 National Biodiversity Data Centre Ø ¡ www. agriculture. gov. ie www. birdwatchireland. ie Invasive Species Ireland Ø www. invasivespeciesireland. com

Thank you Patricia. Torpey@agriculture. gov. ie