Nature partnership ‘needs farners’ (From Evesham Journal)

Nature partnership ‘needs farners’

10:00am Friday 10th August 2012 in Countryside

THE CLA is urging farmers and landowners to become involved with the new local nature partnership, saying that those who own and manage the land must play a key part in the decision-making process.

The call follows the announcement by Environment Minister Richard Benyon of 41 successful LNPs, a government initiative that seeks to include all sectors of society in the natural environment.

CLA Midlands rural adviser Donna Tavernor said: “We need people with genuine experience of the rural economy and land management to contribute and to monitor LNP proposals in their area.

“The association is encouraging its members to engage with LNPs to ensure equal attention is paid to all three pillars of sustainable development including economic as well as social and environmental criteria.

“Most importantly, we need to ensure that LNP designation does not stifle rural enterprise due to a tightening of planning regulations, which we have been assured by ministers is not the intention. This underlines the need for a directly involved rural watchdog.”

The CLA says it has shown that farmers and landowners provide numerous goods and services, including many environmental benefits, that are undervalued as people are not prepared to pay for them.

Miss Tavernor said: “The situation can only be improved if those charged with delivering the environment the public wants have a say in how it is paid for and delivered.

Farmers or land managers wishing to get involved in their Local nature Partnerships can contact Donna Tavernor on 01785 337010 or e-mail donna.tavernor@cla.org.

uk for more information.