LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature: Incentivising peatland restoration via results-based payments

Before the project, blanket bogs in northwest Ireland were under pressure from drainage, peat cutting, burning, invasive species, and inadequate land management. Traditional agri-environment schemes paid for actions (inputs) rather than outcomes, and biodiversity decline, carbon loss, and poor water regulation persisted.

• A mechanism to reward outcomes (habitat quality, carbon sequestration, water integrity) rather than just prescribed practices
• Stronger farmer and landowner engagement and ownership in conservation
• Better coordination between conservation goals and agricultural livelihoods
• Building capacity in communities, local institutions and schools to sustain conservation in the long term

We piloted and demonstrated a Results Based Payment Scheme (RBPS) which links payments to an annual habitat score (0–10) based on ecological indicators. This incentivises maintaining or improving high habitat quality. Supplementary elements (school programmes, community seed funds, outreach) reinforce local buy-in and build capacity.

• Tested and demonstrated habitat scorecards for peatland, woodland, grassland and whole-farm assessments Wild Atlantic Nature, building on previous successful EIP projects in Ireland.
• Recruited and trained farmers, advisors and assessment teams to apply the scoring system
• Launched the RBPS pilot in selected Natura 2000 sites, covering ~63,000 ha and > 800 farmers (Environment)
• Developed school and community programmes: schools use simplified scorecards in field visits, communities access seed funding for local conservation actions (read more here)
• Engaged multiple partners and aligned with national policy (feeding into ACRES)

Partners include the National Parks and Wildlife Service (coordinator), Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Teagasc, Northern & Western Regional Assembly, The Heritage Council, Coillte, Bord na Móna, RTÉ, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, and local communities, schools, NGOs. (Wild Atlantic Nature)

The RBPS pilot has been successfully launched and payments totalling c.€3 million have been made to farmers for delivering improved biodiversity, water quality and climate regulation. The pilot has influenced national policy: it underpins the ACRES scheme under Ireland’s CAP, now covering much of the Natura 2000 network. The project also won the 2024 Natura 2000 Award in the “Working together for nature” category. (lifeinsular.eu)

• Designing a robust, credible scoring and verification system that is both scientifically valid and practical on the ground
• Gaining farmer trust in a results-based rather than input-based payment model
• Administrative complexity, monitoring and compliance burden
• Ensuring continuity beyond pilot phase / sustainability after project funding ends

• Starting with pilots helps test, learn and refine before full-scale roll-out
• Building trust and capacity with landowners is essential
• Aligning ecological goals with farmers’ interests enables co-ownership
• Rigorous administration and data systems are critical for scaling
• Multi-stakeholder partnerships and communication are key