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Rosie Simpson, Natural England

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

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Rosie Simpson, Natural England

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  1. Rural Development Plan for England (RDPE) 2007-13 – improving the environment through agri-environment Rosie Simpson, Natural England

  2. 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 neededto 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

  3. National England RDP Strategy • 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

  4. RDPE 2007-13 – improving the environment & countryside Axis 2 – (Maximum 80%) Agri-environment including non-productive investments Other 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 farm Training – market orientation, resource protection & efficiency Cooperation – e.g. marketing & economy of scale Axis 3 - (Minimum 10%) Diversification Creation/development of Micro-enterprises Sustainable rural tourism- manage impacts Leader (funding through Axes 1 - 75% project funds, 5% cooperation, 20% running costs, skills & capacity,

  5. RDPE budget allocation 2007-2013 £3.9 bn (5.5bn€) Energy Crops Forestry Uplands (LFA support) Convergence Classic Schemes Axis 3 (10% RD budget) Entry level Environmental Stewardship (ES) Scheme Axis 1 (10% RD budget) Higher level ES scheme Axis 2: (80% total RD budget) EU RD funds: £750m (1050m€) Co-funding: £850m ((1190m€) Vol modulation: £1500m (2100m€) Co-funding: £800m(1120m€) £2.9 billion (4.1bn€) for Environmental Stewardship

  6. RDPE budgets 2000-2013 – EU RD funding plus Voluntary National Modulation 500 England Rural Development Programme 450 Rural Development Programme for England 400 350 Environmental Stewardship introduced 300 £ million 250 200 150 100 50 0 2013/14 2006/07 2008/09 2007/08 2009/10 2000/01 2012/13 2011/12 2010/11 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2002/03 2001/02 Source: Defra, various sources – indicative figures only

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Cirl Buntings: A rare species that has clearly benefited from agri-environment 83% increase in targeted areas for cereal field margins & retention of stubble (compared with 2% elsewhere

  10. Do agri-environment schemes Work? • Solid evidence based on years of experience and monitoringshows 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

  11. 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.

  12. Further information - www.defra.gov.uk rosie.simpson@naturalengland.org.uk www.naturalengland.org.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

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