Using the skills of farmers is often the best way to improve biodiversity

The Countryside Alliance worked with a cross-party group of MPs to help table an 
amendment to an earlier Agriculture Bill to provide the Secretary of State with specific 
powers to provide financial assistance for the purpose of “supporting upland landscapes 
and communities” in England.

Our Briefing Note, which you can read in full below, highlights the following key points:

• Using the skills and experience of farmers is often the best way to improve 
  biodiversity and secure the future of our vital natural resources.
• If farming in upland, and other marginal areas, were to be abandoned because of 
  changes to support payments, there would be detrimental effects on the habitat in 
  these areas and the species they support.
• The conservation work of farmers is often supported by other forms of land 
  management, such as the work of grouse moor managers. More than 80 per cent of 
  English grouse moors fall within a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural 
  Beauty and are popular for outdoor pursuits.
• England’s uplands have received £230 million per annum from the CAP at 2019 
  prices. As a minimum, this total needs to be guaranteed long term to secure the 
  future of upland farming. The transition from CAP to a new agricultural policy must 
  not be used to reduce the amount of funding to upland communities.
• The view from the sector is that much work remains to be done for Environmental 
  Land Management Schemes (ELMS) to be in a fit state for full implementation, 
  particularly where applied to upland farms

Read our full Briefing Note

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