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THE RURAL STEWARDSHIP SCHEME

1 general information

Section 1 About the Rural Stewardship Scheme

1.1 What is the Rural Stewardship Scheme?

The Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) is an Agri-environment Scheme designed to encourage farmers, crofters and common grazings committees to adopt environmentally friendly practices and to maintain and enhance particular habitats and landscape features.

1.2 What is the role of the RSS?

The potential for agri-environment schemes to contribute to rural development is recognised by the fact that aid for such measures is the only mandatory element of the ECs Rural Development Regulation.

The RSS is expected to contribute to the achievement of a wide range of rural policy objectives, for example the delivery of demonstrable benefits to the environment and biodiversity (which have the potential to produce wider benefits e.g. through "green" tourism), contributing to farm income (which may help "pump prime" other economic activity, or support continuing of existing activities), providing employment opportunities for contractors and supporting the retention or development of rural skills such as dyking or hedge management.

1.3 How does the Scheme work?

If you decide to apply to join the Scheme and your application is accepted, in exchange for receiving payments you must agree to:

• Manage specified areas of land and undertake capital works in accordance with the requirements of the options you have chosen; and
• Follow certain General Environmental Conditions and the Standard of Good Farming Practice which apply over the whole of your land.

1.4 Do I have to join?

No - as with all agri-environment schemes run by the Department, participation is entirely voluntary.

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