Agri-Environment Schemes
Since the mid 80s, Wales has been leading the
way with agri-environment schemes that combine farming with care
for the environment. They are a major tool for managing some of our
most valuable species and habitats.
Agri-environment schemes
Since the mid 80s, Wales has been leading the way with
agri-environment schemes that combine farming with care for the
environment. They are a major tool for managing some of our most
valuable species and habitats.
The aim of these schemes is to encourage farming practices which
protect and enhance basic resources such as soil and water, as well
as landscapes, cultural features and wildlife. Part-financed by the
European Union under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), some of
the schemes also include measures to improve public access and
enjoyment of the countryside.
Early years
The first major programmes, such as ESA (Environmentally
Sensitive Areas), were either only available to farms in certain
parts of Wales or only applied to certain habitats, such as species
rich grassland. In 1992 CCW launched Tir Cymen, a pilot whole-farm
scheme still operating in Swansea, Dinefwr and Meirionnydd.
Tir Gofal
This is a much more comprehensive scheme and is applicable on a
whole farm basis throughout Wales. CCW helped design Tir Gofal and
was responsible for its delivery between March 1999 and October
2006. There are now over 3000 agreements, covering 330,000 hectares
of land.
Tir Cynnal
This is a new, less demanding ‘entry level’ scheme and involves
over 200,000 hectares of land. Taken together, land covered by Tir
Cynnal and Tir Gofal agreements represents just over 30% of the
entire Welsh agricultural area.
Managing the schemes – a new ‘one stop shop’
Recently CCW transferred the responsibility of running both Tir
Gofal and Tir Cynnal schemes to the Rural Payments Division of the
National Assembly for Wales.
There are plans to introduce a new ‘’top tier’ co-operative land
management scheme in addition to Tir Cynnal and Tir Gofal. The aim
therefore is for the National Assembly to act as a one-stop-shop
for the entire agri-environment programme. This is to ensure that
the exchange of environmental information underpinning the
preparation of agri-environment agreements is managed as
efficiently as possible.
The National Assembly is also responsible for monitoring the
schemes, including both farm level compliance within individual
agreements and the overall environmental changes brought about as a
result of taking part in the schemes.