Countryside Alliance Ireland backs UFU in opposing further land designations

Countryside Alliance Ireland stands firmly with the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) in opposing any further designation of Northern Ireland’s farmland, following the release of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) report, ‘Review of Implementation of Laws for Terrestrial and Freshwater Protected Sites in Northern Ireland’ on 3 April.

The report calls for DAERA to expand the area of land under environmental designation—an approach we strongly oppose. Farmers and landowners across Northern Ireland have safeguarded the countryside for generations, and their ability to manage the land responsibly must not be undermined by further restrictions, red tape, or regulatory overreach.

Designating more land does not automatically equal better environmental outcomes. What it does lead to, however, is a growing burden on farmers: loss of autonomy, loss of value in their land, and increasing delays for essential on-farm activities due to complicated permissions processes.

As UFU Deputy President John McLenaghan rightly points out:

"This report highlights not only the lack of effective engagement from DAERA and NIEA with landowners but also a growing disconnect between policy and the people on the ground. Farmers are the original custodians of our countryside—they have protected and enhanced habitats for generations. Imposing more designations without real partnership or compensation is a betrayal of that contribution.”

Currently, around 10% of Northern Ireland's land is already designated. Farmers on this land face considerable challenges—from waiting weeks for basic permissions, to severe restrictions on planning within a 7.5km radius. These conditions place significant strain on family farms, with breaches risking financial penalties through deductions to Basic Payment entitlements.

The knock-on effect of designation is real and damaging: it can reduce the value of land, impact title deeds, and impose limitations that make day-to-day management harder and more costly. Agri-environment schemes—while well-intentioned—often fall short of supporting farmers in practical, workable ways, and are too frequently wrapped in bureaucracy.

Countryside Alliance Ireland commends the UFU for hosting the OEP on farm visits to highlight these issues first-hand. The message is clear: if farmers are expected to deliver public goods through environmental land management, then they must be fairly compensated and properly supported.

Sustainability payments should not be diverted to cover the cost of long-term environmental commitments—especially when they are already stretched. These expectations must be backed by meaningful funding, whether from the marketplace or the public purse.

Farmers are not the obstacle to progress—they are the solution. Any future environmental strategy must be built on genuine collaboration, common sense, and a fair deal for those who manage the land.

Countryside Alliance Ireland will continue to stand up for our rural communities and champion policies that recognise and respect the vital role of farmers and landowners in protecting Northern Ireland’s landscapes—not through top-down directives, but through partnership, trust, and long-term support.