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GLASTIR – The new welsh agri-environment scheme February 2012

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Ann Humble – Head of Branch

Glastir Targeted and Woodland Elements

Glastir

www.cymru.gov.uk • Brief overview of the Glastir scheme • How targeting works in the Targeted Element

• How we are targeting water quality

Glastir structure

All Wales Element

(AWE)

ACRES

Targeted Element

(TE) Commons

Glastir

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1

AWE = ELS TE = HLS

Selection

Glastir structure

www.cymru.gov.uk • All Wales Element (AWE) – lower level agri-environment scheme • Common land Element (CLE) – Lower level agri-

environment scheme specifically on Common land • Targeted Element (TE) – selective higher level agri-

environment scheme for farms and commons • Agriculture Carbon reduction and Efficiency scheme

(ACRES) – Capital grants on farms in AWE. • Glastir Woodland Management and creation – available

to all land owners.

Glastir TE

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• Must be in AWE or CLE to be eligible for a TE contract.

• No application process. • Express an interest to join the scheme

(Tick a box). • Welsh Government (WG) selects who

goes forward.

Targeted Element

Glastir Targeted Element: Priorities

Carbon Water (quality and quantity) Biodiversity (species & habitats) Historic Environment Access

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Glastir TE

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WG with expert Partners has developed 130 target maps.

• Government advisors including EAW, Countryside Council for Wales, Forestry Commission Wales, Cadw.

• External experts – RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Bat Conservation Trust, Dwr Cymru

TE selection process

Example Maps

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Example Maps

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50+ maps covering the

whole of Wales

Glastir Targeted Element: Selection

• Each target layer has a ‘weighting’ • Weighting is determined by WG. Based on: • WG priority • Size of target map – large coverage of

Wales lower weight or small areas higher weighting

• Water quality and Carbon soils WG

highest priorities

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High score

High score

Glastir Targeted Element:

• Each farm must deliver at least 1 action per objective they have been selected for.

• Each objective has a list of actions (options) that can be used to deliver this objective.

• Only those actions are available to that farmer.

• Contract Manager goes to the farm knowing what environmental goods we are seeking to ‘buy’.

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Glastir Targeted Element

EAW and CCW worked together to create water quality maps

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So…how do we target water quality?

Glastir Targeted Element

Water Quality Priority Areas • Driven by requirements and deadlines

of WFD and Habitats directive

• Identified areas where strong evidence of impacts by diffuse pollution from agriculture

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Glastir Targeted Element:

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Glastir Targeted Element

Water Quality Priority Areas 1 & 2

• Priority 1 - WFD protected areas and their hydrological catchments that have a deadline for achieving their environmental objectives by 2015

• Priority 2 - WFD water bodies that have a deadline for achieving their environmental objectives by 2015

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Glastir Targeted Element

In Priority areas 1 & 2 Farmers must complete a Manure Management plan EAW are contracted to undertake: • Water Management Plan • Nutrient Management Plan • Storage report

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Glastir Targeted Element

Water Management Plan

• Split into 2 parts: – Field survey – Assess the improved fields

identifying key water quality issues. – Yard Survey – Assess the yard, e.g. slurry

stores, silage storage, yard runoff

• Provides recommendations for farmers

• Report produced for farmers and WG

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Glastir Targeted Element

Water Management Plan: Risk Levels

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Low Current problem with low impact or potential problem with medium impact (i.e. if farming practices change)

Medium Current problem with medium impact or potential problem with high impact (i.e. if farming practices change)

High Current problem with high impact

Glastir Targeted Element

Low Risk e.g. Poaching with only small volumes of sediment reaching the watercourse

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Fields either side do not seem to have any problems (e.g. poaching). The risk may increase if the fields are used during sheep dipping.

(c) Environment Agency Wales

Glastir Targeted Element

Medium Risk e.g. Poaching or erosion resulting in significant quantities of sediment reaching the watercourse

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Significant poaching There is a ditch at the bottom of the field and it is likely that sediment is being transported to this

(c) Environment Agency Wales

Glastir Targeted Element

High Risk e.g. Slurry lagoon that is currently leaking. Collapse of river bank resulting in large sediment

loads to the water course

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(c) Environment Agency Wales

Glastir Targeted Element

Water Management Plan • WG has undertaken that as a minimum all

high impact problems will be addressed in the TE contract.

• Yard issues are addressed through ACRES. – Fast track into this scheme.

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Glastir Targeted Element

Nutrient Management Plan

• Undertaken by FACTS qualified practitioners. • Identify the soil nutrient balances on the farm. • Will make recommendations on slurry/manure

applications, fertiliser and lime requirements.

• WG will be doing soil tests to check compliance with the nutrient management plan

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Glastir Targeted Element

Storage report • Produced to support a current ACRES

Manure/Slurry application or where the EAW identify that there is a need for improvements

• Recommendations to reach 5 months storage capability

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Glastir Targeted Element

Water Quality Priority 3, 4 & 5 Contract Manager visits only • Comprehensive training with EAW • Local EAW staff on hand to do joint visits if

necessary • Same officers that are dealing with priority 1 and 2

cases

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THE END

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