A results-based approach for habitat improvement to improve habitat conditions for breeding waders.

The project trialled new methods to protect breeding Curlew, a national conservation priority in Ireland. In 2021, only 105 breeding pairs of Curlew were recorded, a 98% decline since the 1980s. The decline mainly includes habitat loss due to farming changes, land drainage, forestry, and predation of eggs and chicks. Thirty-five farmers participated in the "Curlew Habitat Option," a results-based scheme to manage land and provide suitable Curlew breeding habitat. With guidance and training, farmers managed their land and carried out habitat restoration works such as scrub removal and creating chick-feeding habitats. Farmers were paid based on the habitat quality they produced,  measured through yearly field scores. Critical factors like sward height (grass length), chick feeding habitat,  and predator habitat were assessed. The project saw significant improvements in habitat quality after just two years. The project also addressed predation, one of the main threats to Curlew nests and chicks. From 2020 to 2023, 33 farmers trialled a "Conservation Keepering" scheme focused on ethical predator management to protect Curlew's breeding attempts. The success of this project relied on the dedication of farmers and landowners to preserving biodiversity on their land. Their commitment was crucial, but ongoing financial and advisory support is essential to reverse the decline of threatened farmland birds like the Curlew. See https://birdwatchireland.ie/category/project/curlew-eip/