Government's nature recovery plans need to work with farmers to deliver for the environment, says CLA
A new framework for protected landscapes has been announced, to help protect 30% of land and sea by 2030
The Government's nature recovery plans need to work with farmers to deliver for the environment, the CLA has said, as a new framework was announced.
Defra says the framework for national parks and national landscapes will "help them better deliver for nature and access". It will build on the commitments set out at COP28, including a map which demonstrates which areas of land could contribute to the '30by30' target in England - a goal to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.
The framework, it says, will support protected landscapes and landowners to deliver its Environmental Improvement Plan targets including tree planting and peatland restoration. The framework has not been published yet.
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said:
“The CLA welcomes greater clarity on how we are going to achieve the goal of protecting 30% of land for nature by 2030, and we look forward to seeing the framework.
“The framework should not be prescriptive and instead needs to facilitate clear dialogue with farmers, encouraging positive engagement and working with them to deliver more for nature. It also needs to make sure that the viability of businesses in these landscapes is not adversely affected, for example through restrictions on planning.
“The government must make sure the focus is on encouraging delivery for the environment without legal designation of landscapes, and needs to recognise the work farmers and land managers are already doing.
“The rollout of Environmental Land Management schemes and the continuation of other schemes such as Farming in Protected Landscapes and the Future Farming Resilience Fund, will be essential in delivering these objectives. Therefore they must be properly funded in a timely manner, working alongside private sector opportunities.”