ICSA Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan has cautiously welcomed recommendations from the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration calling for a dedicated funding stream to meet Ireland’s obligations under the Nature Restoration Law. “This is a welcome development and reflects what ICSA has been saying for some time that nature restoration cannot and must not be funded out of the existing CAP budget,” he said.

Continuing, Mr Phelan said, “Farmers are already under enough pressure and CAP is there to support food production and farm incomes. Nature restoration will only succeed if it is backed by new, additional and ringfenced funding that is guaranteed for the long term and open-ended. Until that funding is secured, there can be no real progress on this initiative.”

 He said that anything less than secure, open-ended funding would fail to give farmers the confidence needed to engage. “Nature restoration is not a short-term scheme. It involves permanent or long-lasting changes to how land is farmed. Farmers will not sign up to that level of change based on short-term schemes or vague promises. There can be no reliance on mickey mouse five-year schemes. The funding must match the scale and long-term nature of what is being asked of farmers, with clear and workable exit options.”

 He said that while the report contains assurances that participation will be voluntary, many farmers remain unconvinced. “Farmers have heard these assurances before. What is needed now are cast iron guarantees that participation will be voluntary in practice, not just in principle, and that farmers will not face pressure or penalties down the line if targets are not met.”

 Mr Phelan also welcomed the committee’s recommendation that the State should take a leading role in delivering nature restoration on publicly owned land. “That is a practical and fair approach provided it does not adversely impact neighbouring holdings. It is right that the State should lead by example in delivering restoration targets before looking to private landowners to carry the burden.”

 Concluding, Mr Phelan said, “Nature restoration will only work if it works for farmers, and that means proper recognition of the work they do in delivering public good. That said, it will be very difficult to build trust and encourage farmer participation if there are continued mixed signals at EU and national level. Farmers cannot be expected to engage in ambitious nature restoration measures while, at the same time, the European Union pushes ahead with the Mercosur deal. Recent events at Bord Bia have only reinforced that frustration. That level of contradiction and double standards is infuriating for farmers. Without consistency, fairness, a clear commitment to protecting food production and food security, and guaranteed, long-term funding, there will be no trust and this will not work.”