SMR 2 & SMR 3

1. SMR 2&SMR 3 FAS Training 2017 Patricia Torpey Integrated Controls Division

2. Cross Compliance 13 Statutory Management Requirements (SMR)

3. IRELAND • 28 species of land mammal • >400 species of birds • >4,000 plant species • >12,000 species of insect • Must ensure enough suitable habitat for all these species to flourish • Need the support of landowners

4. SMR 2Conservation of Wild Birds Birds Directive 2009/147/EC (79/409/EEC) • Europe: > 500 species of wild birds • 32%: not in a good conservation status • Birds Directive: aims to protect all of these 500 wild bird species naturally occurring in the EU Corncrake

5. Key elements of Birds Directive Annex 1: 194 species and sub-species are particularly threatened. Member States must designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for their survival and the survival of all migratory bird species. Ireland • SPA sites selected by NPWS • Most sites are over 100 hectares in size • 154 SPAs – SI’s formally designate each SPA • 570,000 hectares covered Breeding Curlew Yellowhammer Whinchat

6. Special Protection Areas SPA sites are habitats for Annex 1 birds, e.g. upland, wet grassland and scrub, blanket bogs and machairs Chough Hen Harrier Puffin

7. SPAs and ARCs Ireland • Landowners have been notified by NPWS of SPA areas and Activities that Require Consent • 38 ARCs • e.g. reclamation, turf cutting, ploughing • ARCs are site specific and are listed in each SPA Statutory Instrument • Check out: • www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa Puffin

8. Key elements of Birds Directive Annex 2: 82 bird species can be hunted. However, the hunting periods are limited and hunting is forbidden when birds are at their most vulnerable: during their return migration to nesting areas, reproduction and the raising of their chicks. Wild game birds may be hunted at certain times of the year “Open Season” Pheasant Duck Woodcock

9. Derogation to hunting limits Wood Pigeon These birds can currently be captured or killed anywhere at any time of the year Hooded (Grey) Crow Feral Pigeon Rook Magpie Collared Dove Jackdaw

10. Key elements of Birds Directive Annex 3: bans activities that directly threaten birds For example • Deliberate killing or capture of birds • Destruction of birds’ nests and eggs and taking of birds’ eggs • Trading in live or dead birds • Deliberate disturbance of birds particularly during breeding and rearing

11. Key elements of Birds Directive Annex 4: provides for the sustainable management of hunting but Member States must outlaw all forms of non-selective and large scale killing of birds For example: • Snares • Explosives • Net/Traps • Poisoned/anaesthetic bait

12. SMR 2 inspections SMR 2 Applies to all areas of all farms with additional emphasis on SPAs ARCs form the basis of DAFM inspections KEY: Farmer must have written consent for ARCs Kingfisher

13. SMR 2 inspections It is the beneficiary’s responsibility to be aware if the land they declare (including rented land) for the BPS is within a SPA and to be aware of the particular requirements attaching DAFM Inspections: • Have ARCs been carried out without the appropriate prior consent? • Are activities likely to cause a deterioration of habitats or any disturbances affecting birds? e.g. removing a landscape feature/scrub during the bird nesting season (1st Mar-31st Aug)

14. SPA Activities Requiring Consent

15. SMR 3 Conservation of Natural HabitatsWild Flora and Fauna Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC • Cornerstone of Europe's nature conservation policy with the Birds Directive • Establishes the EU wide Natura 2000 ecological network of protected areas • >1,000 animal and plant species plus 200 habitat types listed Petalwort White Prominent Moth Semi Natural Grassland Sand Dune Sea Cliffs

16. Key elements of Habitats Directive Annex 1: Member States must designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Annex 2: Certain habitats and species must be protected within SACs Ireland • SAC sites selected by NPWS • 13,500 km2 designated Heath Blanket Bog Sand Dune

17. SAC’s In Ireland Limestone Pavement Machair Heath Sand Dune

18. Species for which habitats in Ireland are especially important Lesser Horseshoe Bat Freshwater Pearl Mussel Salmon Killarney Fern Kerry Slug Otter Yellow Marsh Saxifrage

19. SACs and NAs Ireland • Landowners have been notified by NPWS of designated SAC areas and Notifiable Actions (NAs) • 423 SACs – NAs being transformed into ARCs • Each habitat and species has its own NAs • NAs form the basis of DAFM inspections • Check out: • http://webgis.npws.ie/npwsviewer/ • www.npws.ie Figure of Eight Caterpillar

20. SAC Notifiable Actions

21. SMR 3 inspections It is the beneficiary’s responsibility to know if the land they declare (including rented land) for the BPS is within a SAC designated area and to be aware of the particular requirements attaching DAFM Inspections: • Have ARCs been carried out without the appropriate prior consent? • Where there is consent, did the works go beyond what was granted? • e.g. land reclamation activities Frog

22. Finding ARCs on NPWS website

26. Scroll Down to ARCs

27. Natura 2000 stats • SACs • 423+ sites • 13,500 km2 • 65% land; 7% lake; 25% marine • SPAs • 154 sites • 570,000 ha • Equal parts land lake and marine • Account for c. 15% of Ireland's land cover • 30-40,000 farmers

28. Further information • DAFM • www.agriculture.gov.ie • NPWS.ie • www.npws.ie • Helpline 1800 405000 • National Biodiversity Data Centre • www.biodiversityireland.ie • Birdwatch Ireland • www.birdwatchireland.ie • Invasive Species Ireland • www.invasivespeciesireland.com

29. Thank you Patricia.Torpey@agriculture.gov.ie