Farming in Ireland in recent decades has not escaped the trend towards intensification. But despite this, a large proportion of Irish farmland is still managed in a way that works with nature and the landscape. This type of farmland is referred to as High Nature Value (NHV) farmland. What the HNV concept recognizes is that the nature interest of these HNV areas is intimately linked with farming practices and survives because of farming not despite it. So in HNV areas the preservation of biological diversity and nature value is linked with safeguarding the continuation of farming and long-established farming practices. These farms have their roots in management systems that used regional breeds of livestock and drew upon local skills that complemented the climate and geography of the area. Few artificial fertilizers and chemicals were used and in many places small-scale cultivation was a part of the livestock production system. Exploiting and sustaining natural  pastures and meadows often involved sophisticated but labor-intensive management practices.