Maximizing production at wildlife expense

Overgrazing in the uplands is responsible for nearly 90% of long term damage to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in England, but now a unique working partnership has found a way to help landowners in Bowland reverse the decline.

English Nature Council visited the area (6 July) to see at first hand how an integrated approach to land management can improve this internationally important site.

Overgrazing happens because the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) pays farmers according to the numbers of livestock on the land. This policy maximises production, but at the expense of wildlife. The answer is to reduce grazing, and channel agricultural support in the uplands to make hill farming both economically viable and environmentally sustainable. Now a partnership between government departments and agencies, local authorities, voluntary conservation organisations and farmers has launched the Bowland Initiative, a pilot project which includes a complex funding package to enable farmers in Bowland to start managing their land for both wildlife and livestock. It aims to address a number of conservation issues, such as the loss of herb rich hay meadows and rushy grazing pastures which are important to wading birds.It also promotes the natural regeneration of woodlands by fencing to prevent sheep grazing as well as improving heather regeneration.

Another initiative taking place on land owned by North West Water promotes integrated farm management to produce better quality sheep as well as wildlife conservation. On a visit to the area, English Nature Chairman Baroness Young of Old Scone said: "North West Water's Bowland Environmental Strategy is a really exciting project, and English Nature are delighted to be involved with it. One of the key tasks is to encourage the heather to regenerate, and the project will use techniques developed by English Nature, in partnership with local landowners, over the last 10 years. Today we have seen that some landowners, such as North West Water, take their nature conservation responsibilities very much to heart, and have worked hard to reduce sheep numbers even further."

"Bowland Fells is a European Special Protection Area (SPA) because birds of prey such as hen harrier, merlin and peregrine falcons and waders such as golden plover all breed here," she continued. "Heather moorland is vital for the survival of these and many other species, so having failed to achieve a fundamental reform of CAP to prevent overgrazing in the uplands, it is fantastic to be part of an initiative which allows the people who live and work in Bowland to be ahead of the reforms and really make a difference for wildlife".

English Nature's Natural Area Profile for the Bowland area was published recently. It explains why the area is so important for nature conservation and what is required to both safeguard and enhance this interest. The Bowland area, along with the other Natural Areas in North West England, provides the framework for the UK Government's Biodiversity Targets in the NW and is set out in another publication by English Nature Natural Areas in the North West Region. This document provides guidance to other regional bodies (such as the Regional Development Agency, the Government Office in the NW, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and many others) on how policies and action can be directed to improving our natural heritage and creating jobs in the NW. Copies of these documents are available from English Nature's North West Team on 01942 820342.