Biodiversity & Countryside
The Irish landscape provides a rich variety of natural, cultural and built heritage. Here, we outline a range of relevant Teagasc resources that address farmland biodiversity and the Irish countryside. These include an overview and further references to current and recent research projects, as well as a collection of Teagasc leaflets and information booklets.
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Farmland Habitats
Irish farmland has a good diversity of habitats such as hedgerows, field margins, ponds and streams, native woodland, bogs and species-rich meadows and pastures. Irish biodiversity depends on farmland habitats.
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Built Heritage
Traditional buildings enrich the Irish countryside. Old farm buildings provide a direct link to the farming methods of previous generations.
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Schemes
It has been compulsory, since 1994 for each EU member state to have agri-environment schemes. GLAS is the current environmental scheme in Ireland.
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Research
Biodiversity and Countryside research is focussed on developing the scientific knowledge base required to underpin policy and farming activity that will contribute to conservation of farmland biodiversity and ecological resources