5 Enclosures and Rights of Nature Flashcards
(52 cards)
When/what were the Enclosure Acts in the UK?
18th Century
Fencing in of land to prevent others from accessing it
What did this signify?
Shift from community led and collective decision making (e.g. when to sow, plough, graze) to fenced fields and individual decision making/ownership
What was the argument for?
Underpinned the economic and agricultural development of Britain
Improved the health/quality of landscape
Gave farmers great autonomy
What was the argument against?
Theft of land -
Impoverishing the many for the sake of a few
What was common land and what was it used for pre- 18th century?
All those in the village had customary rights to access/utilise it for common purposes e.g. grazing, collecting firewood
Why was common land so important?
Formed often a significant part of income for poorer families and allowed them to heat their homes/cook, as fuel was very expensive at this time
Who did well out of the Acts?
Land owners; they had greater freedom to develop and improve their land and incomes and could sell land which suddenly increased in price to the rising middle class
Church of England; could lease
Landscape; general improvement to draining, bogs, heath land, afforestation etc
How did the landscape change?
There were new farms, farm houses, roads which were now outside of the centre of the village
Significant changes to rights of way/bridleways etc
How was this linked to parliament?
Land ownership was inherently linked to parliament membership
Why is there concern that this is happening again in modern Britain?
Since 1979, state has sold 10% of Britain’s land area and 50% of its public land
What land has been sold?
Large amount of Forestry Commission land
Formerly nationalised land e.g. railways, water, steel, coal
How was the selling of land justified?
Invoke the ‘hidden hand of the market’ as an agent for greater efficiency
However what is the main risk of privatisation in reality
Tragedy of the Commons
In pursuit of the highest rents possible, owners restrict everyone else’s opportunity to enjoy social amenities
What does privatisation mean for Britain’s least advantaged?
They have to pay rents that have increased 6-7% per anuum since 1979
Link with parliament now?
1/4 of MPs are landlords
Which factors have driven increasing pressure on global land and water resources?
Rising food demand
Increasing population
Dietary changes
Enhanced biofuel production driven by rising oil prices and new biofuel policies
Give an example of a policy that has driven changes in the biofuel industry
EU 2008 Renewable Energy Directive
What has this pressure driven?
Increased purchase of foreign agricultural land by major companies and corporations
During which years has this trend been greatest and how much land has changed hands?
2005-2009 with a peak in 2009
45 million ha of land
Which event in particular increased the amount of land grabbing?
Global Food Crisis 2007-2008
Which commodities in particular increased in price?
Wheat, rice, soy beans, maize
How much did they increase?
2008 cereal prices reached a peak 2.8x their 2000 price, and in July 2010 remained 1.9x this price
What was the rise caused by?
Growing food demand (esp China and India)
Increased biofuel production
Financial speculations
Adverse climatic conditions in the world’s ‘breadbaskets’
What was the social impact of the global food crisis?
Drove 44 million people into poverty
Sparked food riots in e.g. Mozambique September 2010
