Environments can be Saved by Focusing Inducements Appropriately

There is an interesting account of what happened with a change of funding focus in the Burren area of County Clare in Eire (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/06/food-will-be-a-by-product-the-irish-farmers-creating-nature-friendly-fields ). Initially, the EU subsidies for farmers, were either driving small farmers out of cattle rearing or forcing them to import and rear large beef breeds in big herds.  This could only be done by supplementing their diets by using slurry on the land. At this time, the farmers were essentially rewarded for the size of their holding and the size of their herd. This created 'nice' green fields but destroyed the substantial biodiversity in that limestone location, by wiping out a lot of indigenous species and polluting the water courses. An ecologist got support for EU funding to be alternatively directed to farmers who achieved the best environmental outcomes for their fields (it was important here, to get recognition of the fact that land varies and that solutions will vary from location to location). Farming appears to now be thriving in Burren and the biodiversity of the terrain is maintained). This proves that environmental improvement is possible so long as rewards are focused appropriately.