INHFA president Colm O’Donnell has said that while the CAP itself and the Farm to Fork strategy have been discussed for Ireland’s CAP strategic plan, the Commission’s Biodiversity strategy has yet to be discussed.

Protecting carbon-rich soils such as peatlands and land designations will all be tied into Ireland’s CAP strategic plan, he said.

“We have progressed from a [Government] SWOT analysis on to a needs assessment, and the Farm to Fork strategy and programme for government are mentioned in the document but the [European Commission’s] biodiversity strategy hasn’t been addressed so far.

We will need to have the power of the people here

“It’s at an advanced stage already, but the worrying thing is that in the biodiversity strategy, it says member states must identify criteria and guidance for how member states will designate the land and also a definition of what strict protection would mean in an Irish context.

“That is to be done before the end of 2020. We will need to have the power of the people here, because it’s not even mentioned in the CAP consultation committee,” he warned.

“I am extremely worried that this could slip under the radar unless we start a campaign. This will affect from the top end of Inishowen, down to Connemara and down to west Kerry,” he said.