|
|
Environmental Stewardship
On the 3rd March 2005 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs launched a new agri-environment scheme, Environmental Stewardship. The scheme replaces the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS), Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) & Organic Farming Scheme (OFS. Adrian Roper explains more about the new scheme.
Background & review of agri-environment schemes
Since the launch of ESAs, CSS and OFS in 1987, 1991 &
1994 respectively, significant environmental benefit has been achieved across
the key themes of:
In total there are approximately 32,000 agreement holders, with over one million hectares of land under agreement. These schemes are funded through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), with most management options being funded 50% by the European Union and 50% by national sources. In 2000 when the first ERDP was drawn up, commitment was given by Government to review the schemes during the course of the Programme. Subsequent to this, in 2002, the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food led by Don Curry recommended a broader approach to agri-environment schemes, enabling much larger numbers of land managers to engage in good environmental practice over a wider area.
As a result Defra commissioned two external reviews of the schemes, carried out extensive public consultation, and undertook a large scale pilot project covering; arable and horticultural, lowland livestock, upland, and mixed lowland farming systems. It was from these projects that Environmental Stewardship was developed.
The Environmental Stewardship scheme
Environmental Stewardship retains the previous four agri-environment
scheme objectives:
Also includes three new objectives:
The scheme has three elements:
Entry Level Stewardship (ELS)
A whole farm scheme open to farmers and land managers aimed
at addressing countrywide environmental issues such as loss of biodiversity,
damage to the historic environment and diffuse pollution. There are 50 management
options available covering all farm types, and options fall in to one of nine
categories:
Applicants are required to submit a ‘Farm Environment Record’ (a basic audit of the farm’s environmental features) and achieve a points target of 30 points per eligible hectare. In return the agreement holder receives £30 per hectare (‘Less Favoured Areas’ receive £8/hectare). Each management option achieves a number of points and the applicant chooses appropriate options to achieve their target. The agreement lasts for five years and commences at any one of four start dates in the year.
Organic Entry Level Scheme (OELS)
Operates in much the same way as ELS, and aims to maintain
or increase the size of the organic farming sector. Payment rates are £60
per hectare in reflection of the additional costs and environmental benefits
of organic farming.
Higher Level Scheme (HLS)
Will combine with ELS or OELS options, and aims to deliver
significant environmental benefits in high priority situations and areas. HLS
is discretionary and concentrates on more complex management, with advice and
support forming an integral element of the scheme. Agreements run for ten years
with a five year break clause.
Each region has, in partnership with environmental and farming organisations, developed a set of priority targets based on the ‘Joint Character Areas’ principle. Applications are assessed against these targets and the best applications receive an agreement offer. Applications are supported by a detailed environmental audit of the farm, the ‘Farm Environment Plan’ (FEP), which identifies environmental features, assesses their condition, and recommends management. These FEPs will also provide a baseline for monitoring agreements and the success of Environmental Stewardship as a whole.
There are over 110 annual management options which fall in to thirteen categories:
- Hedgerow management.
- Woodlands, trees and scrub.
- Traditional orchards.
- Historic Environment.
- Arable options.
- Resource protection.
- Grassland options.
- Moorland and upland rough grazing.
- Lowland heathland.
- Public and educational access.
- Intertidal and coastal options.
- Wetland options, and
- Additional supplements.
These options are combined with over one hundred capital items that are based on those options available under existing agri-environment schemes.
Management options are based on a series of prescriptions defining
the minimum and maximum of management, such as ‘do not apply fertilisers’,
and ‘indicators of success’ describing the target condition that
management is aiming to achieve, for example ‘by year 5, X pairs of lapwing
should be breeding on the holding’.
‘Rural Development Advisers’ will negotiate the detail of the agreement
in partnership with the farmer.
Environmental Stewardship and Local Authorities
Land owned by a local authority, the crown or any other Exchequer
funded body and managed by a tenant can be entered in to Environmental Stewardship,
providing that the application does not include any management which is a condition
of the tenancy, or is already required as part of the conservation responsibilities
of the landlord.
However, land that is owned and managed by a local authority cannot be entered in to ELS. Local authorities are expected to manage their land in an environmentally friendly way and as such are not eligible for payments for basic land management. Local authorities, National Park Authorities and Public Corporations are eligible for HLS, provided that the work is not required as part of their conservation responsibilities.
Summary
Environmental Stewardship is an exciting scheme, providing
the opportunity for all farmers to undertake a basic and valuable level of environmental
management benefiting the wider countryside with additional benefits arising
from the Higher Level Scheme
Adrian
Roper
Rural Development Adviser
Defra’s Rural Development Service
Adrian advises on agri-environment schemes in Wiltshire and leads locally on permissive access within those schemes. Further information on Environmental Stewardship can be obtained from the Defra website.