Many much loved landscapes are threatened with decline and need substantial new funding if they are not to be lost said the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) [1] today (Tuesday). This urgent call comes as the prospect for future changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) draws nearer with the launch of the European Commission’s CAP Health Check [2] today.

The Health Check will examine how successful the reforms of the CAP introduced in 2003 have been and is likely to propose some significant changes to farming support payments. Along with the forthcoming debate on the next European Union Budget [3] there could be a major change in the way that land management activities are supported.

Ian Woodhurst, CPRE’s farming campaigner said:

‘Unless farmers are properly rewarded for the countryside management they undertake the countryside we love will suffer. Research published by Natural England [4] has shown that a worrying 20% of our landscapes are showing serious signs of neglect. We need to find resources to arrest this decline and create the healthy environment the public demands.

‘CPRE considers that this could boost food production too. By maintaining distinctive and productive local landscapes we can reinforce the connection between high quality countryside and enjoying high quality local foods.

Ian Woodhurst concluded:

‘This will be good for rural economies and communities as well as people in towns and cities who visit the countryside. We have evidence that there’s a problem. The Health Check needs to make sure the future of the English countryside is truly healthy, for everyone’s benefit.’

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. The European Commission is expected to publish its initial proposals for the ‘CAP Health Check’ on Tuesday 20 November, after which a debate will begin with the proposals being discussed and concluded over the course of 2008. The Health Check will examine how the reforms of the CAP that were introduced in 2003 are being implemented. Key issues that are expected in the CAP reform review document include: making the Single Payment more effective, efficient and simple, including the requirements of cross compliance; further separation of payments to farmers from the need to produce certain crops and commodities; the ending of the set-aside scheme, which can have an important role in maintaining wildlife habitats; the roles of Pillar I and Pillar II and transferring of funds between the two funding streams; climate change challenges; the growth in biofuels and management of water resources.

3. The European Commission has begun a review of the European Union’s Budget which will continue throughout 2008 and 2009 and is expected to be concluded in 2010. It will examine the EU’s spending priorities and could result in a major change in the proportion of the EU’s Budget that is spent on land management through the CAP.

4. Natural England, the Government’s official watchdog for the natural environment, published its report Tracking Change in the Character of the English Landscape in June 2007. The report analyses the 159 Joint Character Areas (which describe landscape character) with reference to a series of factors including boundary features such as hedges and dry stone walls; agricultural land cover; historic features and settlement and development patterns. Each factor is assessed as to whether its condition is enhancing or maintaining landscape character, or damaging it, either through poor quality development or neglect.  10% of Joint Character Areas have been enhanced; 51% have been maintained; 20% are neglected and 19% are ‘diverging’ (where change is taking place which is damaging existing landscape character).  For full information see www.cqc.org.uk/jca/