Agri-Environmental Climate Scheme - new round of applications

16 January 2019

A new round of applications for the fund to support environmentally friendly land management practices is now open.

The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme seeks to protect and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage and help agricultural businesses adapt to the effects of climate change.

Following the latest funding award in December, the scheme has committed more than £150 million to around 2,500 applicants since 2015.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“The Agri-Environmental Climate Scheme supports farmers, crofters and land managers to achieve our aims to reduce greenhouse emissions from farming. It also promotes a greener and more prosperous environment, through improving water quality, managing flood risk, and protecting habitats.

“As part of our wider work to simplify current CAP schemes, a review is now underway of the processes for AECS - from claim to payment - to identify where we can streamline and simplify to benefit customers.”

“I would encourage anyone thinking of making an application to explore how they can benefit from AECS and access the environmental and economic opportunities of low-carbon farming.”

Francesca Osowska, NatureScot’s (NatureScot) Chief Executive, said:

“We're looking forward to receiving applications for this fantastic scheme again in 2019, which will help farmers and crofters increase wildlife, manage flood risk and combat climate change. Farmers have found  many innovative ways to help the environment through AECS, such as  restoring wetlands, creating grasslands and hedges where wildlife can thrive, and much more.”

Background

The Agri-Environmental Climate Scheme 2019 application window will run for 12 weeks from 16 January to 12 April, with 31 May for collaborative projects involving five or more businesses.

Applications for Slurry Storage can be made during the main AECS window (16 January - 12 April), however, the deadline for standalone slurry store applications is 26 June.

The Improving Public Access scheme will not be reopening for applications following a record number of high quality applications in 2018.

The scheme is jointly funded by the Scottish Government and the EU, with any new contracts guaranteed for the full term.
 
Original source: Scottish Government

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