April 14, 2021 6:35 pm
The Irish Natura And Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has expressed concerns over the potential “detrimental” effects of a European Council proposal on the management of peat-based soils.
Speaking at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine, INHFA president Colm O’Donnell said that the proposal for an amendment to GAEC 2 is “unprecedented”.
‘Appropriate protection of wetland and peatland’
According to the European Commission, the main objective of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC 2) – appropriate protection of wetland and peatland – is the “protection of carbon-rich soils”.
Under CAP, GAEC 2 will be applied to eligible agricultural land, as per the European Council proposal.