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Rural Development Plan for England (RDPE) 2007-13 – improving the environment through agri-environment
Rosie Simpson, Natural England
The rural context
• Most rural areas are thriving. Less social deprivation then national averages – some lagging areas
• No distinct ‘rural economy’ but very diverse rural areas - require intelligent, targeted responses
• Biodiversity improvements achieved but large scale action still needed to achieve targets
• Need to reduce agricultural water & air pollution & conserve soils
• Need to encourage all farmers to improve environmental management
• Safeguard irreplaceable historic landscape features
• Structural change but little risk of land abandonment
• Healthy functioning environment to allow economies to grow
• Agri-environment measures best able to influence land management - 70% land used for agriculture
• Supported by complementary measures - targeted investment to improve competitiveness and add value, raise capacity & skill levels, improve knowledge transfer, advice
• More efficient use of natural resources – e.g. recycling, less artificial fertiliser, & lower environmental impacts of food production & consumption
National England RDP Strategy
RDPE 2007-13 – improving the environment & countryside
Axis 2 – (Maximum 80%)Agri-environment including non-productive investmentsOther LFA areas Sustainable use of forestry land including short rotation coppice for Energy Crops Scheme (ECS) – framework being developed
Axis 1- (Minimum 10%) Establishing perennial energy crops (ECS)Adding value – capture more returns to the farmTraining – market orientation, resource protection & efficiencyCooperation – e.g. marketing & economy of scale
Axis 3 - (Minimum 10%)DiversificationCreation/development of Micro-enterprisesSustainable rural tourism - manage impacts
Leader (funding through Axes 1 - 75% project funds, 5% cooperation, 20% running costs, skills & capacity,
RDPE budget allocation 2007-2013 £3.9 bn (5.5bn€)
Convergence
£2.9 billion (4.1bn€) for Environmental Stewardship
Classic Schemes
Axis 2: (80% total RD budget)
Axis 1 (10% RD budget)
Axis 3 (10% RD budget)
Energy CropsForestry
Uplands (LFA support)
Higher level ES scheme
Entry level Environmental Stewardship (ES) Scheme
EU RD funds: £750m (1050m€)
Co-funding: £850m ((1190m€)
Vol modulation: £1500m (2100m€)
Co-funding: £800m (1120m€)
RDPE budgets 2000-2013 – EU RD funding plus Voluntary National Modulation
Source: Defra, various sources – indicative figures only
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England Rural Development Programme
Rural Development Programme for England
Environmental Stewardship introduced
Objectives of Environmental Stewardship (ES)
• 5 primary objectives:– Conservation of biodiversity– Conservation of landscape– Resource protection (Soils, air &
water)– Promotion of public access– Conservation of the historic
environment
• Higher Level Stewardship 2 further secondary objectives:– Flood risk management – Genetic conservation
ELS arable margin option
Stone Curlew Plots in S. England: Higher Level Scheme management option
• 1998 fallow blocks in arable & grass; 150 by 2005
• Breeding pairs up from 45 in 1991 to 103 in 2005
• Major contribution to meeting UK BAP targets early
Cirl Buntings: A rare species that has clearly benefited from agri-environment
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83% increase in targeted areas for cereal field margins & retention of stubble (compared with 2% elsewhere
Do agri-environment schemes Work?
• Solid evidence based on years of experience and monitoring shows they work and have:– reduced tension between agriculture and conservation– helped slow habitat loss– halted/reversed declines in rare species– helped farmers to manage key habitats
• Still too early to see scheme-driven change in overall health of the farmland ecosystems, though modelling work suggests that this should happen
• Past experience suggests that schemes need at least one cycle & adjustments to get them right
Agri-environment scheme development
• Improved targeting • Climate change adaptation; • Water Framework Directive implementation, • Biodiversity 2010 targets, including farmland birds, • Manage expiring “Classic Scheme” agreements• SSSI condition target• Integrate LFA into upland agri-environment • Favourable Conservation Status for Habitats & Species
of European Importance
Estimated that significantly more than the £2.9 billion available is required to deliver.
Further information - www.defra.gov.uk
Natural England working to achieve:
• A healthy natural environment
• Enjoyment of the natural environment
• Sustainable use of the natural environment
• A secure environmental future
www.naturalengland.org.uk
