Management of the Natural Environment - L2 Flashcards
How have you reported on planning relating to the natural environment?
I have gathered evidence for the planning potential of site which have environmental designations either over the land or sit adjacent to the land.
How have you reported on grants available for protection of landscape, natural habitat, and natural resources?
I do not have direct experience of this as my client as the Environment Agency as landowner cannot be in receipt of payments for grants. I do though know where to go to find out the information that would be needed to report on this to a different client.
How have you advised clients on Capital Grants funding and what affects your advice?
I do not have experience of this, it is something I would be keen to do. My thoughts on this would be the size of the holdings, how this fits in with planning for the future for my client and the agreement terms.
Tell me about a time you have applied to the RPA for funding on behalf of a client
Again haven’t completed this but have been contacted the RPA about the removal of fines under a Higher Tier Countryside stewardship scheme which was required to be terminated.
Tell me about advice you’ve provided regarding available agri-environment schemes.
I haven’t but would consider the following:
- land management goals
- eligibility of the scheme
- the benefits of the schemes
If you’ve prepared an application for agri-environment schemes, what evidence was included in the application?
Haven’t been something I have done, but aware you would need:
- detailed maps of areas to be included
- environmental assessments
would read the requirements in the various handbooks before advising on it and go to those who have completed this.
Explain how management of the natural environment interacts with diversification opportunities for your client.
For my client, diversification opportunities are slowly growing, these typically have been on the commercial aspects of properties. Diversification does have to make sure that it is in keeping with the surrounding.
Removal of a weir and sluice gate - Talk us through the feasibility of adding a fish pass to the scheme of works
Feasibility study being completed presented. This is split between financial, logistical and operational.
Financially, funding options are available for this and it being sought by the fisheries team and operationally the removal of the structures will allow for the pass to be placed in.
Logistically the location is not easy to access and this must be factored into the design.
Fish pass - How did you decide upon an option that met the statutory requirements?
When an asset is no longer required for flood risk purposes, to comply with HM Treasury rules, must look to dispose of assets. However, locations are assessed by various teams for alternative purposes and this stretch of river was being examined by FBG for alternative uses. As I had a broad understanding of the patch aware this may be a viable option before disposal of the structure.
Fish pass - What was your reflection on the project?
The organisation is complicated and there are competing priorities at times with various clients having an interest in an assets. Ultimately this project was being funded by fisheries and thus implementing the fish pass was critical.
I also had a good working relationship with the adjacent landowner, this makes projects like this much easier and bringing them along with you.
As a surveyor, I think I am good at creating a good repour with individuals and this can then cross over into engagement roles in projects. One reflection that my role could have easily gone further into engagement but need to know
BNG Guidance Documents - Talk us through your research and report on BNG requirements for the planning application
The documents being produced are for the FCRM teams who undertake large scale capital funded projects and how the introduction of BNG will impact on their processes. Currently this process is slip into a number of steps called gateways.
I was responsible for researching where BNG plans needed to be implemented and if this was required before the planning application was submitted. This included the level of detail required for the plans, will this require surveyor/legal input in securing the agreements for the 30 year management.
I reported on the requirement that Estates as always, but now need to be included earlier in the process as planning may well be refused of held back if the necessary confirmations on agreements is not confirmed. The BNG hierarchy too needs to be considered and that offsite agreements and units aren’t being discussed before onsite has been looked into or credits haven’t been factored in.
Documents - What were the options available to secure BNG through unit providers
This is an option, should onsite units not be possible. A list of providers has been gathered across the country by surveyors and this is being fed into projects.
Documents - What professional and ethical standard did you exemplify and how in this project?
Professional
1. Aware of my knowledge and limit to providing advice on a matter I do not currently have significant experience of, instead just knowledge.
2. Honesty and integrity
3. Ensuring the information provided by inline with current guidelines and regulations.
4. Written in a clear and concise manner.
Ethical
1. Acting in an honest manner
2. following the rules of conduct, knowing where I had ability to act
hedgerows - What short-term actions did you report on?
The need to start collecting my data on hedgerows, where they are, basic information on responsibility and current management, where there are gaps.
Hedgerows - What was the data sourced from to support the report
Data supplied by natural england natural capital ecosystem assessment data alongside my own data on 3 sites in the patch I visited.
