Minister Noonan opens 2025 Farm Plan Scheme to support nature restoration at farm level
- Published on: 24 October 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
- this year’s Farm Plan Scheme will allow a further 200 entrants to participate
- participants can choose one of two themes – a 5-year management approach, or one off ‘Actions for Nature’
- the deadline for applications is 5 December 2024
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, has opened the 2025 Farm Plan Scheme for applications. The Scheme supports farmers and non-farmer landowners to conserve and restore nature on their land based on bespoke advice, and pays them for the results they deliver. Interested participants are invited to apply by 5 December 2024.
Since it began in 2006, over 1,000 Farm Plans have been created, covering a variety of nature interests, from birds and other species of conservation concern to a range of habitats including eskers, coastal dunes, fens, peatlands and uplands and turloughs. Currently, there are 327 Farm Plans across the country. In the coming tranche, it is anticipated that approximately 200 additional plans will be designed.
Minister Noonan encouraged landowners to join the Scheme:
“The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme is hugely impactful – both for nature and for the people doing the work to conserve it. It shows us what can be achieved when we work together. I’m pleased to have been able to grow the Scheme from 50 Farm Plans when I took office to over 300 now, and delighted to be able increase that number even further this year. It’s exciting to see the project diversify as well, with a new stream of one-off ‘Actions for Nature’, which I’m sure will improve accessibility for a wide range of farmers and landowners.
“The Farm Plan Scheme is a vital tool in the management of some of Ireland’s most important areas for nature and an valuable means of addressing the challenges facing biodiversity in Ireland, in partnership with the custodians of land. I invite more people to get involved and I look forward to seeing new plans bearing fruit for nature over the coming years.”
This new call sees a new approach within the scheme, where applicants can apply for either the traditional approach (typically 5-year on-going management plans) or one-off ‘Actions for Nature’ (for example: nature pond creation, access management, fencing, encouraging saving of seeds for nature (for example: for grasslands and woodlands), addressing alien invasive species, grants towards conservation management tools).
The NPWS is currently seeking applications to the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme. The deadline for submission of application is Thursday 5 December 2024.
How to apply
Applications must be made using the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme application form - available on www.npws.ie and from Agri.Ecology@npws.gov.ie
The Farm Plan Scheme call is split into two themes. The applicant should select the one which one is most relevant.
Theme one
General Call
Prioritising:
- designated areas (for example: SAC, SPA, NHA)
- species of conservation concern
- habitats of conservation concern
- proposals with a high degree of innovation
Theme two
Actions For Nature
Prioritising:
- proposals of high merit, which will clearly deliver for nature and not pose risk to existing habitats or species of concern
- proposals with a high degree of innovation
Who should apply
The applicant does not need to be a farmer. Farmers or land managers who wish to manage land for nature should consider applying.
Priority is offered to lands in designated sites, namely Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas, or where it can be confirmed habitats or species of conservation concern exist.
Land managers who identify direct conservation needs where one-off ‘quick win’ actions for nature can be delivered.
NPWS cannot facilitate or progress plans which would lead to a risk of double-funding, with participants in other agri-environmental schemes, for example: ACRES/LIFE/EIPs.
As the budget is limited, NPWS reserves the right to select plans where the need for conservation action is the greatest.
Notes
An overview of the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme can be found in the book is titled ‘Farming for Nature: the role of results-based payments’, which can be accessed online in pdf format.
The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme supports land managers, whether farmers or not, to deliver actions that benefit habitats and species in need.
The Scheme has a reputation for delivering high-end results, with land managers, farm planners and NPWS working together to co-create and develop bespoke plans for the land in question.
The plans are tailored to the land, the land manager and nature conservation objectives. This can range from results-based measures, to capital works, to altering or removing management to allow ecosystems regenerate naturally.
Minister Noonan invites anyone who manages land and is interested in financial and advisory supports to help nature, to submit applications by 5 December 2024.
The current call for applications is open until Thursday 5 December 2024.
About the NPWS
The NPWS is an Executive Agency within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves.
The NPWS has a broad scientific remit, including the monitoring of habitats, species and designated sites, and undertaking scientific research. It has significant policy-advisory and policy-making functions in relation to nature and biodiversity, including the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan.
The NPWS has a wide range of operational responsibilities including the management of 8 National Parks, 74 Nature Reserves, and a variety of other State lands accessible to the public. The NPWS manages a range of EU programmes, alongside thousands of conservation measures across the designated area network and National Parks.
The NPWS is the principal coordinator of the National Biodiversity Action Plan and is a statutory consultee in relation to planning matters, including county and regional development plans. It is the lead Agency in drawing up the National Restoration Plan for Nature. Other responsibilities include regulatory and licencing functions, administering grant schemes to support farm-plans, conservation measures, actions for biodiversity, as well as invasive species control measures and the prevention, investigation and enforcement of wildlife crime.