More than €1 billion has been made to farmers participating in the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) since it was launched in 2015, new figures show.
There are nearly 500,000 GLAS participants and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, announced the €1 billion mark for the scheme, which it has branded a “success”.
Minister Charlie McConalogue said GLAS has been a two-fold success and added: “It has helped Irish farmers produce in an efficient and sustainable manner while supporting incomes and it has also protecting and enhancing our biodiversity.”
Officials described GLAS as delivering for Irish agriculture and environment by supporting more than 30 actions that support biodiversity, climate change mitigation and improve water quality.
Some of the key environmental measures carried out include:
- GLAS farmers manage more than 250,000 hectares of Low Input Permanent Pasture,
- Over 60,000 hectares of Traditional Hay Meadows and
- Protect the quality of over 14,000km of watercourses.
- The support, management and grazing of over 228,000ha of commonage;
- And the protection of rare breed populations and bird, bee and bat habitats.
GLAS farmers receive up to €5,000 per annum under the general scheme with provision for payment up to €7,000 where the farmer is poised to give exceptional environmental returns.
LSL News.