The Kerry Eco-Social Farming (KESF) project created a camera loan scheme. This trial was set up between all 26 host farms within the project in collaboration with Kerry Biosphere reserve.
Three bioblitzes, which helped to enhance awareness among host farmers and social farming participants of the species on farms, induced passion and drive into farmers and participants, and led to the creation of the camera loan scheme. Through this scheme, host farmers can have a loan of a trail camera for a period of time at no cost to allow the host farm to take note of the wildlife on the farm and document it.
This action enhances the social farming experience for the participants and also integrates new technologies into their lives. The recording, via photograph or video, and submitting of observations of all species of wildlife to the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) is very important in the dissemination of data gathered by the project. Records submitted to the NBDC are assessed by a team of ecologists and the resulting data is freely available for anyone to access. This data is particularly useful during large scale developments, where impacts to natural habitats and species populations may be an issue.
Having access to a camera to visually record wildlife on farm landscapes can help to bridge the gap between nature and farming. It can also be an efficient way to document species and biodiversity on farmland when reported back to the NBDC.
For more information about this innovation, contact Leo at leo@erinn.eu.
