A new initiative to be funded to the tune of €4.35 million aimed at protecting the corncrake has been announced.

The new programme has been welcomed by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and Minister of State for nature Christopher O'Sullivan.

The programme is called 'Natura Communities for Birds' and is aimed at protecting the corncrake, an endangered farmland bird, as well as other bird species.

According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the new initiative builds on the Corncrake LIFE project, and will "build capacity" in communities to deliver nature conservation actions for farmland birds.

The programme will initially operate in nine key sites in counties Donegal, Mayo and Galway, which have been selected for the conservation of corncrake and designated as special protection areas (SPAs), but will also support the conservation of a broader range of bird species.

Over the past five years, the Corncrake LIFE project contributed to a 55% increase in the national corncrake population, with almost 1,500ha of land in management agreements with landowners.

The LIFE project was led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The NPWS will also lead the new programme, again working with the Department of Agriculture.

The Natura Communities for Birds programme will see conservation action being led by a "locally embedded team" in partnership with landowners, farmers and communities.

The NPWS has appointed Atlantic West Community Alliance CLG to develop and help deliver the Nature Community for Birds pilot programme.

The Natura Communities for Birds Programme will run for an initial three-year period. It is being funded with contributions from the NPWS; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and through Shared Island funding.

Commenting on the LIFE project and the new initiative, Minister Heydon said: "The positive impact of the Corncrake LIFE project is heartening to see and is a testament to the conservation work that farmers are embracing on their land."

"Collaboration and engagement are the underpinning successes of the Corncrake Life project, from cross-departmental, to farmers and the wider community.

"This initiative brought all parties together with a conservation objective that delivered for all involved," Minister Heydon said.

The minister said he is "delighted to support the future corncrake programme and the winning tenderer Atlantic West Community Alliance CLG, which will continue this excellent conservation work".