Report highlights benefits of agri-environment schemes

In the week the Campaign for the Farmed Environment is launched, with agri-environment schemes at its heart, the agency is using the report to highlight the merits of schemes like Entry Level Stewardship (ELS).

The report described by the agency as the ‘most comprehensive analysis of the schemes yet undertaken’ was publicised at a House of Commons reception last night in a bid to encourage politicians to continue ploughing money into them after 2013. 

The findings include:

• Two thirds of agricultural land in England and most of its ‘most sensitive and best-loved landscapes’ are managed under AES.
• 41 per cent of hedgerows (101,665 miles) are now managed through AES, with around 13,000 miles of hedgerows have been restored in the last 10 years.
• While overall farmland bird numbers have fallen, there have been ‘notable wildlife successes’. Skylarks, cirl bunting, bumblebees, chough and brown hares have experienced significant population increases on target AES sites
• AES have helped reduce the impacts of climate change, through, for example, management of peat moors to help them store carbon and schemes supporting woodlands. Greenhouse gas reductions from AES are estimated at up to 3.5m tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
• More than 170,000 people made educational visits to farms through AES in 2008 and 99 per cent said they enjoyed the visit.
• Around £400 million was paid to England’s farmers and land managers last year through AES – and 98 per cent of payments were on time. This investment sustains up to 15,000 jobs and generates additional spending of up to £850 million per year.

Poul Christensen, acting chairman of Natural England, said the report provided ‘conclusive proof that agri-environment schemes have again and again demonstrated their value as a fundamental part of the farmed landscape’.

“They have successfully combined the twin goals of caring for the environment and maintaining food production,” he said.

“With the current funding programme for AES due to end in 2013, it is important that we understand the benefits that agri-environment schemes have delivered. We need to ensure that these achievements can be sustained and built on after 2013.”

Farming Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the report ‘shows how everyone can benefit from the work farmers do to look after the countryside’.

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