Countryside Management Association News

CMA sponsor Countryside Jobs Service have published their latest Special Edition Supplement, in association with The Tree Council for National Tree Week & Permaculture Association for their year of the tree. Click here to see more!

Here is a website that might help those looking to host events or increase recreation provision whilst minimising impact on their site. In their own words:

“Best of Both Worlds helps increase opportunities for outdoor sports and recreation, and at the same time commits to protecting the sensitive environments in which they take place.

The aim is that enthusiasts and participants can enjoy and appreciate their pursuits in the outdoors whilst allowing land managers and owners to make decisions to benefit the land they look after.”

In order to assist land managers in creating the best type of agreement with clubs etc the website also gives advice on different types of agreements available.

And for those who are at an impasse with clubs etc looking to use your land they have a Virtual Advisory Network where Signatories to the principles of Best of Both Worlds are willing to meet reasonable requests for help in resolving difficulties where all other avenues have been exhausted.

There are some major national organisations (RSPB, Ramblers Association, National Federation of Anglers etc) signed up and the BOBW is being led by Natural England , the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) and the Countryside Council for Wales so expect future developments in this area.

What’s your icon of the environment?

To celebrate their 10th birthday in 2006, the Environment Agency are working with ICONS to find out what you think is the top icon of the environment in England and Wales. It could be a place of particular natural beauty, a native animal or plant, an ecological project or movement – there are hundreds of possibilities.

You can browse through the list of the first few nominations, or if you don’t find your own icon of the environment on the list, you can nominate it yourself!

The initial 12 suggested icons are:

Dartmoor
Eden Project
Hedgerows
Bluebell Woods
Barn Owl
Bicycle
Hedgehog
Thames Barrier
Salmon
Wind farms
Otter
Recycling Logo

Environment Agency Director of Corporate Affairs Helen McCallum said:
“The short-listed ICONS of the Environment embrace a range of natural heritage species and habitats that we revere; human ingenuity that showcases integration with the environment and symbols of our increasing efforts to protect the planet from over-exploitation."

Jerry Doyle, ICONS’ Managing Director said:
“The ICONS of the Environment launch coincides with the unveiling of 21 new additions to the main ICONS’ – A Portrait of England collection. Growing ever bigger and richer in content, the total number of official Icons now stands at 74. Appropriately, England’s natural beauty, habitat and landscape are strongly featured in this latest wave, with icons including the robin, the English weather, the Thames and the Peak District."

The winning icon will be announced in the New Year.

Natural England today (8th November) launched its health campaign, the first of its four national campaigns to reconnect people with the natural environment.

Helen Phillips, Natural England’s Chief Executive, said: "Prevention is better than cure but up to 97% of NHS spend goes on treating people after they have become ill. We are working with the NHS to plan ways in which the environment is used as a ‘natural’ health service that gets, and keeps, more people healthy."

Dr Fiona Adshead, the Government’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: "I welcome Natural England's commitment to encourage and enable people to make use of the country's outdoor space for physical activity."

Dr William Bird, Natural England’s health adviser, added: "Increasing evidence suggests that both physical and mental health are improved through contact with nature. Yet people are having less contact with nature than at any other time in the past. This has to change!"

Natural England is working closely with the BBC and over 300 other partners to help deliver Breathing Places, a campaign to mobilise more than a million people, who are not currently active in the environment sector, to get involved at thousands of wildlife friendly green spaces across the country.

Liz Cleaver, Controller of Learning at the BBC stressed the importance of Natural England’s health Campaign, adding: "These two campaigns now provide the public with the opportunity for people to get outside and to get actively involved with nature close to where they live. That’s great for wildlife – but it’s also fantastic for everyone’s health and well being."

Natural England’s health campaign will encourage:

1. More people to get more health benefit from regular contact with the natural environment wherever they live.
2. Health professionals to make more use of the natural environment as part of the total health care they give to their patients.
3. Professionals who manage public open spaces to improve the amount and quality of green space near where people live.

Natural England will do this by building a coalition of environmental, educational, scientific, health and community organisations to bring the environment to the forefront of the health agenda.

The results of this year's Local Environmental Quality Survey of England (LEQSE) have been announced.

Latest data from the annual survey shows that litter levels in England have fallen 5% to a five-year low, and a 45% increase in the number of local authorities issuing fines for litter as well as an improved collection rate for fines.

Local Environment Quality Minister, Ben Bradshaw, said:

"The results of the survey show that litter has reduced for the first time, across all land use classes, and performance on litter has moved to satisfactory levels, which is very good news.

Delving further into the trends for litter, again, for many types we're managing to keep things where they are, such as smoking-related litter, consistently found at 79% of sites - this figure has remained the same again this year. Others, such as fast food litter have gone up, but I'm pleased to report that at least the rate of increase has slowed. These items were found on 24% of sites, up 2% from 2004/5. Drinks-related litter has also continued to creep up in prevalence over the last 3 years, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink containers increasing at a similar rate. So clearly there remains a lot of work for us to do in order to bring about a significant rise in standards.

The overall picture for flyposting, and graffiti, which are key environmental crime indicators, has remained good."

A police-led Unit to target and disrupt serious wildlife crime on a regional, national and international level has been launched.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) is the only one of its kind in the UK and a world leader in tackling wildlife crime.

A multi-agency operation, the NWCU will gather, analyse and co-ordinate wildlife crime intelligence and support the enforcement activities of police and HM Revenue and Customs officers in the UK.

The NWCU's structure and operations have been developed over the last four years and have been internationally commended and implemented as a model world wide.

Launching the Unit, Biodiversity Minister, Barry Gardiner, said:

"Stepping up the Unit's remit will facilitate greater numbers of prosecutions and go a long way in the fight to stamp out wildlife crime, but this is not something we can do alone.

"Working with partners both inside and outside of government we are now in a prime position to tackle the perpetrators head-on. This Unit sends a clear message: we will not tolerate wildlife crime in the UK.

"I am pleased that Defra was able to commit a further £200,000 in February this year, which has enabled the expansion and broadening of the Unit's remit. I look forward to its continuing success."

Lothian and Borders Police announced in April that it would host the Unit from a new base in Edinburgh.

Paddy Tomkins, Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police who are hosting the Unit said:

"We pay tribute to the work that the Unit has done up until now as part of a larger intelligence agency, all of which has been exceptionally important. We look forward to establishing a close working relationship with this highly dedicated team of people using our combined knowledge and skills to combat all types and levels of wildlife crime."

Mark Fuchter, Head of Prohibitions & Restrictions Group at HMRC says:

"We share a common interest in tackling the international trafficking in CITES-listed endangered species. The pilot unit has quickly established itself as an effective partner alongside police wildlife crime officers and customs officers. We have a close and effective working relationship with the unit and the changes announced today will enhance law enforcement capability against wildlife crime even further."

The pilot for the NWCU was set up in 2002, and originally functioned from within the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) as a focal point to gather, analyse and disseminate actionable intelligence both nationally and internationally. Initial support was provided by Defra, the Scottish Executive, the Association of Chief Police Officers, HM Revenue and Customs, and the Home Office.

A dedicated website has also been launched at www.nwcu.police.uk.

Barry Fryer, Chief Superintendent of the RSPCA's Special Operations Unit, said:

"We welcome that the Government has recognised the importance of fighting wildlife crime by increasing the role of this Unit. It's a step forward in the fight against wildlife crime. We hope to work closely with the National Wildlife Crime Unit in the future."

Steven Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC has offered his support for the success of the Unit:

"Illegal wildlife trade is of growing concern and increasingly involves criminal networks that are becoming more organised and using more sophisticated techniques. The establishment of the new Unit - and its new strategy - is an effective and timely response to this challenge. It is clear recognition by the UK government of the seriousness of the illicit trade and a clear commitment to combat such criminal activities."

Ian West, RSPB Head of Investigations added:

"The setting up of the National Wildlife Crime Unit is the most
important development in combating wildlife crime since the formation of
the wildlife crime officer network."

David Cowdrey, Director of WWF-UK's Wildlife Trace Campaign said:

"Stamping out wildlife crime in the UK is a vital step toward protecting the world's biodiversity. WWF is hopeful that this service is given the support it needs and that other nations around the world follow this lead. Laws to protect the world's endangered species are meaningless without effective enforcement."