Page 2 - Natural World Spring 2018

UK NEWS

Wildlife Trusts call
for a farming rethink

New report proposes a better way to spend public
money on agriculture after the UK leaves the EU

Leaving the EU is a rare environmental needs using local data similar cost to today’s system,
chance to reverse the and consultation with local people. public benefits would massively
fortunes of the wildlife, soil, Linking farmers together and increase. For the first time, all good
water and habitats which post-war targeting investment where it is most quality habitat in the area would be
agricultural policy has depleted. needed will restore habitats and join well managed and expanded. £14m
That’s the message in a new them up.” would be invested in natural flood
report by The Wildlife Trusts on the The report suggests the current UK management over 10 years.
future of farming and land agriculture budget of £3bn could n More on wildlifetrusts.org/
management in England. What fund the new system. We currently farming
Next for Farming? suggests that spend £144bn on health, £87bn on
once the UK leaves the EU’s education and £37bn on defence. Westminster
Common Agricultural Policy, A study of the River Aire seems to agree!
payments to farmers should be catchment shows how this idea
linked to a wide range of benefits, could work. A Yorkshire Wildlife Environment Secretary Michael
for people and wildlife. Trust report concludes that for a Gove has also announced that
“At the moment, farmers can the Government intends to
sell the food they grow through change the current approach to
the market. But they can’t sell a matthew roberts farm payments. Whilst we
whole range of benefits or welcome the proposals, one big
services that society needs,” risk remains. Vast areas of
says Ellie Brodie, Senior Policy farmland currently receive ‘basic
Manager at The Wildlife Trusts. payments’, which require
“Our report proposes three positive management of wildlife
public funds. The money would habitats, such as hedgerows.
be allocated through local When these payments end, new
environment plans designed to regulations will be required to
achieve nature’s recovery. These replace them.
plans would be allocated Restoring peat uplands
through local nature recovery would be more profitable
plans – identifying than degrading them

For a similar cost to today’s system,
public benefits would massively increase

don sutherland

2 NATURAL WORLD spring 2018