Get the Label
The WE Label represents a voluntary commitment by land managers to work under the standards of wildlife management and conservation as it can deliver a wide range of social, economic and environmental public benefits. The WE Label communicates cost-effective ways to enhance biodiversity thanks to rigorously tested sustainable land management practices. It helps connect people with the land and its resources by supporting the provision of information and encouraging active engagement with the general public.
The WE Label has been developed to acknowledge exemplary management of Irish estates. It targets landowners and managers of such estates and encourages them to join the WE initiative to acquire recognition for their commitment to sustainable wildlife management.
All estates are welcome to apply. There are no restrictions in terms of hectares, location or activity.
If you wish to apply for the WE Label, please contact us, to access our initial survey.
There are Four Steps to be completed by any participant before they can qualify for the WE Label:
Step1: Filling in the Eligibility Survey here
Step2: Signing the WE Label Charter here
Step3: Completing the WE Ireland Label Questionnaire.
Step4: Passing the Criteria through an independent assessment process
The Charter must be signed before the Label can be awarded.
Successful applicants will receive the WE Label, which will be reassessed every 5 years
Level 1: WE Charter
Level 1 gives access to the WE-Network. For that, you will have to sign the WE Charter, making a vow to follow the Ten Commitments laid in the document. In doing so, you commit to sustainable practices on your estate. These commitments are the founding principles of the WE Label philosophy and are common to all WE Estates across Europe.
By signing the Charter, the land owner/manager voluntarily commits to the sustainable management principles and gains access to the WE Label Network. This allows the members to join a community of individuals and estates committed to working for a sustainable countryside. Members of the network receive exclusive invitations to events where they are given the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with other land managers throughout Europe.
After signing the WE Charter, candidates have 5 years to decide whether they want to proceed to apply for the WE Label Level 2.
Level 2: WE Label
In order to be considered for a WE Label, you will have to fill in a comprehensive application form. Applicants are assessed based on the information they provide by completing a WE Label Questionnaire, which has been developed based on a set of general and specific criteria adapted to Ireland. These criteria are backed by a international scientific committee responsible to the European Landowners Organisation.
The WE Questionnaire aims to collect all the relevant information about the property, economic activity, plans for improving the property and measures taken to enhance biodiversity.
Completed Questionnaires are always treated as confidential between the applicant and Wildlife Estates governance bodies.
Applicants are required to submit management plans of the activities carried out on the estate (i.e. agriculture, forestry, hunting) together with the Questionnaire.
Upon completion, the questionnaire will be assessed according to the evaluation grid, comprised of 12 criteria that are embodied by the questionnaire and are set by the European Landowners Organisation. The evaluation is based on different aspects of economic activities, land management practices and their impact on nature and biodiversity:
- Level of stillness/tranquillity/surveillance (30 points)
- Existence of measures that help the sustainable balance between agriculture and country sports (20 points)
- Natural, semi-natural and intensive hunting or fishing grounds (40 points)
- Conservation plans (30 points)
- Biodiversity surface (30 points)
- Prevention and accompanying measures offsetting extreme events – fires, floods, winter cover, cold spells (10 points)
- Food availability (10 points)
- Water availability (10 points)
- Presence of restoration measures and improvements to habitat holding capacity for wildlife (20 points)
- Presence of prey species (30 points)
- Presence of valuable species of fauna (20 points)
- Fauna-Wildlife balance (30 points)
- Conservation of cultural and historic heritage (10 points)
- Communication program (10 points)
Special attention is given to the “sustainable balance between economic activities on the territory” criterion, in which an applicant can receive up to 50 points. The criterion entitled “conservation and restoration plans, projects and measures” is also given priority to ensure the longevity of the imposed changes as it assesses the extent to which the estate activities are geared towards biodiversity enhancement.
As part of the assessment procedure, an expert will visit the estate. The evaluator will assess the applicant and award a score based on the aspects listed above.
The application must receive a minimum 70% to be successful.