Why it it necessary to create an interim habitat scheme in 2024 to avoid a cliff edge for participants in Glastir agreements, rather than finding a way for those agreements to be rolled forward for a final year under the provisions of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill?
Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd | Answered on 16/08/2023
With funding from 2024 being through domestic budgets, there is an opportunity for support to be made available to all farmers in Wales to apply, both to maintain existing habitat land under management and, where appropriate, to bring additional land into management. This aims to both enhance its environmental value and help prepare the sector ahead of the introduction of the SFS.