Increased funding for change in areas vulnerable to predators

The Government proposes to introduce a special restructuring fund to make it easier and more predictable for livestock owners in predator-prone areas to get grants for transferring to alternative agricultural employment.

The Predator Agreement provides for grazing on uncultivated land in priority predator areas to be modified through preventative measures and operational restructuring. This is based on the predator population in grazing areas.

Starting in fiscal year 2015, the Government therefore proposes to set aside a separate pool of NOK seven million for restructuring measures for farmers with sheep in outlying areas. This is aimed at farmers who for some time have had extensive depredation and wish to transfer to alternative agricultural business on their land.

“The aim of setting aside funding for this purpose is to reduce sheep losses and the risk of animal suffering in the most predator-prone areas. We believe a special pool for this will increase predictability and help to lower the level of conflict,” said Climate and Environment Minister Tine Sundtoft.

The grants for restructuring will be distributed by the Environment Agency on the basis of input from regional and local environmental and agricultural authorities.