Decade of Collaboration Delivers Environmental Gains for Lough Neagh
For over the last nine years the Lough Neagh Partnership (LNP) has been working closely with DAERA and the local farming community around Lough Neagh, managing two major environmental group farm schemes, one on the southern shores of the Lough and one on the river systems in the east side of the Lough.
The Partnership has recently reflected on the real impact and help it has given to the farming community around the shores and evaluated the schemes real impact. The Lough Neagh Environmental Group Farm Schemes (EGFS) funded by DAERA, have encouraged farmers around the Lough to fence off waterways to improve water quality, delay the putting out of cattle in the springtime to allow wetland birds a better change to breed and assisted farmers to manage important habitats better, and in some instances to restore new ones.
Gary Mc Erlain the chair of the Partnership noted that.
“This programme has had real impact on the environment of the Lough but also helped with bringing much needed income and investment into the Lough Neagh Farming Community. On average it is estimated that the farm participants have received on average up to £19,700 over the length of the schemes. The schemes have also set up a new farming best practice pilot model to build upon, and we are excited to hear of the new funding package from the Northern and Southern Irish Governments and the Shared Island fund, to develop a wider Lough Neagh catchment-based farming programme. I would personally wish to thank all the Lough shore farming community who have participated in this scheme, and this clearly shows that the farming community are willing to look at new practices and care for the environment in tandem with producing quality food for us all. I would also wish to congratulate Mike Meharg who as our EGFS co ordinator, has worked tirelessly with the Lough’s Farmers over this 9 year period.”
Below is some important outcome data which summarise this important environmental and investment impact of the two Lough Schemes.
• Over 261 DAERA Environmental Farm Scheme Agreements were signed
• 1100ha of wet grassland better managed
• 209 ha of wet woodland managed better
• 406 km of watercourse fencing installed
• 421 bird boxes and 154 bat boxes
• 14 ha of new woodland planted
• 6 km of Riparian Buffers created
• 100 farm nutrient plans developed
• 33% of the farmed shoreline of the Lough is in the scheme
• 10 training programmes implemented
• £5,163,780 of environment investment for the farming community brought into wider Lough Neagh area via DAERA AND LNP
Other good news on top of the new Shared Island Fund development, is DAERA have confirmed that those farmers involved in the Lough Neagh EFS groups will be allowed to continue to apply for environment funds and the Partnership is looking forward to try and help the farming community continue to move to more nature friendly farming practices.
MAP SHOWING SPREAD OF FARMS INVOLVED IN ENVIRONMENTAL FARM SCHEMES
