The decision by the European Parliament today (Tuesday, February 27) to adopt the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) will “not reassure” farmers according to the president of one of the country’s largest farming organisations.
Francie Gorman, president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), said a “vacuum of information” still exists around the NRL and the outcome of the vote – with 329 MEPs voting in favour of it, 275 against and 24 abstaining – highlights what he said are the “genuine concerns” about it.
“Even though legitimate farmer concerns have not been adequately addressed, the EU has pushed ahead with the introduction of the NRL.
“This will not reassure farmers about the impact of the NRL,” Gorman added.
He asserts that farmers are currently “doing more to support nature” than any other sector with 12-14% of space set aside on Irish farms as ‘space for nature’.
“While there have been some important changes to the commission version of the NRL, the law is still flawed,” he warned.
Gorman identified these as “a lack of clarity on the requirements and impact of certain definitions, uncertainty on the potential impact on farmland and production, and the lack of dedicated funding to support the implementation of regulation”.
The IFA president believes that recent farmer protests across Europe emphasised the frustration of some farmers in relation to legislation and legislative proposals, which he said “do not reflect the true environmental, economic and social sustainability impact on EU food producers”.
Nature Restoration Law
But, while the IFA wants to get further information on what the NRL will mean in practice for farmers, the outcome of the vote in the European Parliament today has been warmly welcomed by the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform and Green Party TD, Malcolm Noonan and environmentalists.
The NRL sets out that EU countries must restore at least 30% of habitats “in poor condition” by 2030, 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050.
The law also stipulates that EU countries must “restore at least 30% of drained peatlands by 2030” – with at least a quarter to be rewetted, 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050 – where at least one-third shall be rewetted.
“Rewetting will remain voluntary for farmers and private landowners,” the European Parliament has outlined.
According to the Environmental Pillar – an umbrella group of 32 environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – the passing of the the NRL by the parliament “is a historic day for Europe”.
Dr. Elaine McGoff, Environmental Pillar spokesperson and head of advocacy with An Taisce, said:
“The real work must begin now. We look forward to working with all stakeholders and government to design a Nature Restoration Plan that can deliver for our environment as well as supporting livelihoods in rural Ireland.
“Essential to the success of the plan will be the establishment of a new Nature Restoration Fund, designing new agri-environmental schemes and ensuring that the state leads from the front by restoring habitats across public lands managed by Coillte and Bord Na Móna.”
Meanwhile Oonagh Duggan, Environmental Pillar spokesperson and head of advocacy with BirdWatch Ireland, believes that NRL is a “compromise rather than a victory” for any particular side.