The CAP post-2020 proposals are detailed and complex, and negotiations are ongoing. While significant progress has been made, decisions on a number of key issues have still to be made, particularly when it comes to the proposed CAP Strategic Plan Regulation. One of these issues is the proposed new green architecture, which is aimed at achieving a higher level of climate ambition.
With regard to wetlands, Ireland already provides strict and rigorous protection to wetlands through our planning legislation. Under the proposed CAP Strategic Plan Regulation, a new conditionality is introduced with a number of standards in relation to keeping land in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC), including a new GAEC2 aimed at protecting wetland and peatland ecosystems. As negotiations are still ongoing, this text is still subject to change. Ireland has requested clarification of the meaning of “protection”, and this will help to inform the implementation of measures at farm level.
As regards links to the EU Biodiversity strategy, the strategy aims to increase the protected areas of land and sea across Europe to 30%. However, these are European-wide rather than individual Member State targets, and further clarity is awaited as to how these targets will be met by Member States.
The International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on status of nature and its conservation and works in support of the Ramsar convention on wetlands. Ireland is a signatory to the convention. In 2010 the Irish Ramsar wetlands committee was set up by the government to assist Ireland in meeting its commitments as a signatory. Membership of this committee is drawn from a range of relevant Departments, agencies, scientific and technical institutions, regional and local authorities and non governmental organisations.
My Department is in broad consultation with all relevant stakeholders regarding preparation of the CAP Strategic Plans. The recent publication of the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy will have an impact on the future CAP, and the targets and actions set within them will need to be reflected in Member States’ CAP Strategic Plans. My Department officials and I will continue to actively participate in the CAP post 2020 process both at national and European level to secure the best possible outcome for the Irish agri-food sector, including the continued protection of wetlands and peatlands.