Central government has shifted the focus of nature conservation strategy from the acquisition of land to incentives for on-farm conservation, and wildlife and landscape management by private landowners. The intention is to encourage greater involvement of landowners and farmers in nature conservation without altering the original conservation objectives. Budgetary considerations played a part in this decision.

Greater risk of fragmentation; targets are not being achieved

Current experiences with on-farm conservation and wildlife and landscape management by private landowners suggest that this shift in strategy will not have the desired effect. There has been little enthusiasm among private landowners to adopt conservation management practices. 

While there is sufficient interest among farmers in taking part in conservation schemes, the current schemes will seldom be enough to achieve the conservation objectives that can be realised by conservation management organisations. This is because landscape works, such as raising the water table, are essential for achieving many of the conservation objectives.

The shift in strategy puts the continuity of habitat management at risk. Not only is the continuation of management agreements at risk, but also the planning protection of the managed land. Land within the NEN that is under on-farm conservation schemes isnot subject to the conditional protection regime (‘no, unless’) enjoyed by other areas of the NEN.

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