The EU’s proposed Nature Restoration law puts “a gun effectively to our heads”, the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association has claimed. 

The aim of the legislation is to increase biodiversity and restore habitats across the bloc. 

MEPs voted to support the bill in principle by 336 votes to 300 and a final version of the text will now be negotiated by member states. 

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association says its members have  “no problem” with protecting nature but the proposed law is “not the way to do it”. 

“We’re being forced with a gun effectively to our heads to try and deliver on targets,” President Vincent Roddy told The Hard Shoulder.  

“We haven’t had the proper negotiation; so, we would much have preferred, if the law had been parked, [to] go back and look again at how we can do this and have a proper debate nationally first and rework it through Brussels if we are going to do it that way.” 

Farmer driving a tractor.

Mr Roddy also noted there was no money included in the proposal and so farmers would be “expected to deliver this without any funding.” 

'Essential'

In the spring, the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss urged the Government to “take prompt, decisive, and urgent action to address biodiversity loss and restoration”.

The Green Party are enthusiastic proponents of the proposed legislation and Councillor Alastair McKinstry said it is “essential that we restore our nature”. 

“Eighty percent of habitats across Europe are in a declining state and that needs to be fixed,” he said. 

“So, this law sets targets to fix those.” 

Puffins In Flight (Credit Image: © John Short/Design Pics via ZUMA Wire)

The current legislation puts a particular emphasis on peatland restoration and Cllr McKinstry said in Ireland this would mainly affect State land. 

“The lands that is currently being proposed to be rewetted in Ireland are the peatlands - which are almost entirely on Bord na Mona soil,” he said. 

“The recovery elsewhere on farmland would be entirely voluntary, so I don’t think the farmlands would be lost in that sense.” 

Officials in Brussels hope the legislation will be passed before the European Parliament elections due in 2024.

Main image: Sheep farmer with flock on road in County Donegal, Ireland. Picture by: Alamy.com