Under the initial Financial Plan for the Rural Development Programme an indicative amount of €528m was allocated to Natura 2000. The Natura measure provides for compensation to farmers for disadvantages in their farming activities arising out of three Directives, the Habitats Directive, the Wild Birds Directive and the Water Framework Directive. Natura 2000 forms an integral part of the REPs and AEOS agri environment schemes and applicants with Natura designated land are prioritised under AEOS
Participation in agri environment schemes, including Natura, is voluntary on the part of farmers, and expenditure is therefore demand-led. Actual demand under this measure has proven to be significantly less than was provided for, with expenditure to date amounting to €89.7m. The financial provision for Natura is currently being revised to reflect actual spend to date and expected spend to the end of the Programme. This will involve a re allocation of funds across the agri environment and LFA schemes in Axis two of the Programme without changing the overall spend under this Axis.
