Land management schemes ''can lead to wider community benefits''
Date posted: 02 Apr 2010
Published by Louise Border
Land management schemes can give farmers the chance to offer wider support to their local community, while helping them to focus on biodiversity issues, new research suggests.
Backed by the government''s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England, a Countryside and Community Research Institute study has highlighted the employment boost offered by the Environmental Stewardship initiative.
Published by Louise Border
Land management schemes can give farmers the chance to offer wider support to their local community, while helping them to focus on biodiversity issues, new research suggests.
Backed by the government''s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England, a Countryside and Community Research Institute study has highlighted the employment boost offered by the Environmental Stewardship initiative.
In the period between 2005 and last year, roughly 665 jobs were provided with support as a result of the project, it points out.
Huw Irranca-Davies, the government's minister for wildlife, believes that "ripple effects" are created by environmentally-focused farmers.
"Our farmers do a vital job looking after the countryside, protecting wildlife and habitats, as well as restoring and maintaining iconic features," he commented.
Meanwhile, farmers might also benefit from the Accelerating the Uptake of Anaerobic Digestion in England: An Implementation Plan, which was recently released by Defra.
Please contact Adam Bradley, Head of Food and Agriculture for further information or call 01223 225275
