Provision of services for project officer for Pilot Results-based Agri-environment Payment Scheme (RBPS) in the Northwest of Ireland

Tender description

Please refer to RFT for full details - Summary Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP targets over 225,000ha of Natura 2000 lands, comprising primarily blanket bogs and associated peatland habitats. In many cases lands contiguous with, but outside of, the Natura 2000 network provide an essential function in supporting the achievement of the Conservation Objectives of the sites themselves. The primary target of Wild Atlantic Nature is the Prioritised Action Framework (PAF) in general and blanket bog specifically, and the delivery of benefits to associated habitats and species, in addition to being significantly climate and water quality related. The programme aims to demonstrate the Results-based Payment Scheme (RBPS) approach and develop its roll-out to deliver conservation actions on the ground. The RBPS principles that have been developed and put into practice in similar programmes, such as the Burren Programme and the Pearl Mussel Project EIP, will be used and adapted to work with and for the farmers of the northwest. Ireland is currently developing its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan with milestones of a draft Plan by July 2021 and full implementation due in January 2023. The Wild Atlantic Nature project will build on the shape of the CAP Strategic Plan draft to ensure the best use of project resources to benefit the farmers and project objectives, and ensure it is fit for purpose. It is therefore possible that the exact scope of the RBPS project in terms of area of coverage and the number of farmers involved may change during the course of its life. Notwithstanding the variations that may accrue in the preparation of the draft CAP Strategic Plan, the pilot RBPS will likely cover 4-7 sites across the project area involving up to 800 farmers. The selection of sites is largely based on geographical spread across areas that don’t currently have an existing locally-led programme, whilst also dove-tailing with non-agricultural operational INTERREG project sites (e.g. CABB). Smaller numbers of farmers fr