Clients:
The Heritage Council
Tiros Resources Ltd

Project Type:
Feasibility study: The study brief was to examine arable, dairy and intensive livestock farming systems to identify farming practices that protect and, where possible, enhance natural heritage features.

Project objective:
To assess the appropriateness and likely effectiveness of an agri-environment scheme for farms that are too intensive to participate in REPS. The objective of such a scheme would be to provide an awareness of the need to protect the natural heritage. Note:The term 'natural heritage' refers to all wildlife, flora and fauna. The term 'intensive farm' refers to any farm that is too intensive to join REPS.

Result:

• visited selected farms with an ecologist and carried out an assessment of the natural heritage present on the farm
  
• interviewed the farmer during each visit to ascertain what kind of support intensive farmers would require to participate in an agri-environment scheme
  
• examined a total of twenty commercial farms and complied an individual farm report and map following each visit
  
• made recommendations regarding the design and administration of the new scheme and the farming measures it should contain