Coordination and delivery of services for pilot Results-Based agri-environment Payment Scheme (RBPS) and associated works for WaterLANDS project site in Ireland

Description

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage currently seek a contractor to coordinate a RBPS/restoration actions hybrid pilot as part of the WaterLANDS ‘Action Site’ at Cuilcagh-Anierin SAC. This role involves delivering the RBPS pilot in 2022, coordinating conservation and restoration actions from 2023-2026, monitoring and evaluating the efficacy of actions and the potential for upscaling, liaising with participant farmers, farm advisors and local community groups and working closely with the WaterLANDS project team to deliver on the project objectives, tasks and deliverables across several work packages. Some communication, dissemination and exploitation activities also form part of the role. In 2022 the successful tenderer will implement the RBPS (i.e. surveying and scoring lands) with approximately 200 farmers in Cuilcagh-Anierin SAC through the WaterLANDS project. Lot 1: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage currently seek a contractor to coordinate a RBPS/restoration actions hybrid pilot as part of the WaterLANDS ‘Action Site’ at Cuilcagh-Anierin SAC. This role involves delivering the RBPS pilot in 2022, coordinating conservation and restoration actions from 2023-2026, monitoring and evaluating the efficacy of actions and the potential for upscaling, liaising with participant farmers, farm advisors and local community groups and working closely with the WaterLANDS project team to deliver on the project objectives, tasks and deliverables across several work packages. Some communication, dissemination and exploitation activities also form part of the role. In 2022 the successful tenderer will implement the RBPS (i.e. surveying and scoring lands) with approximately 200 farmers in Cuilcagh-Anierin SAC through the WaterLANDS project. This will provide a clear indication of the existing quality of the landscape and the restoration work required to improve it, in addition to a potential quantification (by proxy) of carbon storage and sequestration potential. From 2023-2026 the project focus will be on carrying out ‘Supporting actions’, which will be co-designed with farmers and their farm advisors. These actions are only taken where there will be an increase in ecological score (i.e. habitat improvement). This intervention will continue for the duration of the project. It should be noted that most Supporting Actions are jointly funded between the farmer and the project team. This ensures a much greater buy-in from the farmer to the understanding of the supporting actions. In summary, the successful tenderer will establish the RBPS framework at Cuilcagh-Anierin SAC in year 1. This will be delivered via the CAP AECM Cooperation Measure post 2023. From 2023-2026 the successful tenderer will work with farmers, farm advisors, ecologists and others to deliver supporting restoration/conservation actions across the participating area to improve the wetland habitat. It is e