The government has today (Wednesday 10 April) published its response
to the Independent Review of Protected Site Management on
Dartmoor.
The government's response sets out a number of priorities to
ensure farmers on Dartmoor are supported to produce food
sustainably and run viable businesses while protecting important
habitats and species across Dartmoor.
These include boosting farmers' confidence in Environmental Land
Management schemes, including those transitioning from Higher
Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements; encouraging collaborative
relationships between Natural England and commoners; and backing
a robust strategy and long-term governance for
Dartmoor.
It follows the Environment Secretary meeting with commoners and
wider stakeholders to discuss the long-term vision for the
management of Dartmoor last month.
Environment Secretary said:
I've heard firsthand the challenges faced by all those who live
and work on Dartmoor, and our response sets out how we will
ensure that farmers remain central to ensuring that we have
healthy and varied habitats on Dartmoor which work in harmony
with food production.
I'd like to thank David Fursdon and the panel for their work on
this important review, and I hope that we can continue to work
together to protect and enhance this breathtaking landscape.
A key recommendation in the Review is the creation of a Land Use
Management Group (LUMG) to develop a multifunctional land use
framework and long-term plan for Dartmoor.
Defra has today confirmed the LUMG will be set up later this year
and run for two years. Defra will appoint an independent chair
who will be supported by a secretariat provided by the Dartmoor
National Park Authority (and funded by Defra) in the day-to-day
running of the group.
Defra has also set out its ambition to make it easier for land
managers to understand site designations and associated
requirements, such as for those farming on Sites of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and to make monitoring and
evaluation of these sites more transparent.
As part of this, the response recognises the urgent need to reset
in ways of working from all parties so that commoners receive
advice and support to benefit from new opportunities under the
Environmental Land Management schemes.
Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England, said:
We welcome the review which sets out a clear and positive vision
for the future of Dartmoor and will help bring together all of
the people who have a role to play in making its unique wildlife,
landscapes and farming sustainable.
Natural England has a statutory duty to protect sites containing
the nation's most precious examples of wildlife and biodiversity
and we recognise that farming will remain integral to how we
achieve this. Since the review's publication, we've taken
steps to rebuild trust with farmers and are advising our
colleagues in Defra to make sure commoners are given the right
support to run viable farm businesses that also work for Nature.
We look forward to working with the Land Use Management Group to
pull together a plan for the peat restoration, tree planting and
sustainable grazing needed to restore nature, for everybody who
cares about Dartmoor.
David Fursdon, Chair of the Review, said:
I am pleased to see the Government supporting many of the
recommendations in our review. Those responsible for the future
of Dartmoor and its special features need to come together now in
an open and transparent way to discuss the practical steps
necessary to restore and enhance this special place. This will
require careful management, properly funded. This is their
chance. They may not get another.
Since the Review's publication, Defra has already taken steps to
address many of the Review's recommendations, including a new and
improved moorland offer under the Sustainable Farming Incentive
(SFI) scheme that addresses many of the grazing and vegetation
management challenges raised in the Review.
Defra has also written to all Higher Level Stewardship (HLS)
agreement holders to provide clarity and set out proposals for
agreeing further annual extensions to HLS agreements into 2025.
