Management of the natural Environment Level 1 Flashcards
Explain landscape and designations you are aware of.
AONBS (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty):
* Their primary purpose is to conserve natural beauty – wildlife, cultural heritage, landscape, scenery, agriculture/forestry, local communities and economy etc.
* Designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and amended in the Environment Act 1995.
* The procedure and purpose of designating AONBs is set out in The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW act)
* NE are responsible for formally designating AONBs and advising on policies for their protection. They are also the ‘watchdog’ ensuring successful conservation.
SSSIs (Site of Special Scientific Interest)
* These sites provide statutory protection for the best examples of the UKs flora, fauna or geographical features.
* The SSSI designation can also underpin other landscape designations.
* Originally notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and were re-notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
* The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW act) brought in improved provisions for the protection and management of SSSIs.
* There are things you can’t do without Natural Englands consent but these depend on the individual SSSI.
* You’ll need to request permission from NE in writing if you intend to carry out a listed activity.
* Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 you could get an unlimited fine if you carry out (or permit someone else to carry out) a controlled activity on an SSSI.
* You would also have to pay to repair any damage caused to the site.
National Parks
* Its purpose is to conserve and enhance landscapes whilst promoting public enjoyment and the social and economic wellbeing of its communities.
* Designated by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The Environment Act 1995 now requires relevant authorities to also have regard for nature conservation.
* Likely to also by the LPA due to Article 4 Direction (Under Section 4 of the Town and Planning Act 1990)
Tell me about agri-environmental schemes you are familiar with.
SFI Sustainable Farming incentive : The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme rewards farmers in England for carrying out actions that benefit the environment. Able to apply for a list of actions and be paid for that
Integrated pest management (IPM): Farmers can receive payments for IPM, including organic farmers. One IPM action, IPM1, involves a BASIS qualified adviser assessing a farmer’s current pest, weed, and disease management approach.
Hedgerows: Farmers can establish new hedgerow trees by selecting existing saplings or planting new ones. When doing this, farmers should try to plant or select a mix of different species to support a wider variety of wildlife.
No tillage farming: This is a new action in the 2024 SFI offer.
Precision farming: This is a new action in the 2024 SFI offer.
Spring-sown or summer-sown cover crops: This is a new action in the 2024 SFI offer.
Grassy field corners and blocks: This action is capped to 25% of land.
Improved grassland field corners or blocks out of management: This action is capped to 25% of land.
Winter bird food on improved grassland: This action is capped to 25% of land
What bodies are charged with bringing in and delivering such legislation?
DEFRA & the RPA (executive agency)
What is an NVZ? And what is its impact
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) are areas designated as being at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution. They include about 55% of land in England.
Limits on when where or how much Nitrogen to apply. rules on record keeping etc
what is a SSSI and what are its implications.
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a formal conservation designation. Usually, it describes an area that’s of particular interest to science due to the rare species of fauna or flora it contains - or even important geological or physiological features that may lie in its boundaries.
There are certain things you cannot do on SSSI land without consulting Natural England and getting consent first. For example, you might want to change the way you manage woodland or change a grazing regime.
Each SSSI has a list of activities, known as ‘operations’, which need Natural England’s consent.
How can you identify their existence
Magic Maps.
How can you check flood risk?
The UK Environment Agency classifies flood risk zones based on the likelihood of flooding from rivers or the sea. The zones are:
Zone 1: The lowest risk, with a less than 0.1% annual probability of flooding
Zone 2: Medium risk, with a 1% chance from rivers or 0.5% from the sea
Zone 3: The highest risk, with a 1% or higher chance from rivers or 0.5% from the sea
You can check your flood risk in the UK using a variety of methods, including:
Environment Agency maps: These maps show the potential extent of flooding and the flood zone an area is in
How do these impact upon your client advice?
As the Environment Agency my client are normally aware of flood risk.
How can you check soil type for agricultural land?
Feel test
A soil’s type can be determined by feeling it and how it responds to handling:
Sand: Feels gritty and the grains don’t stick together when squeezed
Silt: Feels smooth and silky like talcum powder, but isn’t sticky
Loam: Feels velvety or flour-like when dry and forms a weak ball shape when wet which crumbles apart when dry
Clay: Has a smearing quality, and is sticky when we
or soil scapes
what types of soil are there
clay soil
sandy soil
peat
silt
chalky
loamy
Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) system
Classifications Grade 1: High-yielding land with little to no limitations for agricultural use
Grade 2: Very good quality land
Grade 3: Good to moderate quality land, with subgrade 3a being good and subgrade 3b being moderate
Grade 4: Poor quality land
Grade 5: Very poor quality land
How does this affect use of the land?
soil type can affect yield, drainage and susceptibility to compact etc, which can affect yield and limit agricultural use
Explain the current Government payment scheme relating to the natural environment.
The UK government offers several payment schemes to help improve the natural environment, including:
Countryside Stewardship (CS)
Provides financial incentives to farmers, foresters, and land managers to improve and protect the environment. CS focuses on specific locations, features, and habitats, such as wetlands, woodlands, and heathland.
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
Pays farmers to adopt and maintain sustainable farming practices that protect and enhance the environment.
Landscape Recovery
Pays for larger-scale, longer-term projects to enhance the natural environment, such as the creation of large-scale forests and woodland restoration
What is an AONB?
AONB stands for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These areas are protected in England and Wales for their significant landscape value. The primary purpose of AONBs is to conserve and enhance their natural beauty
Also known as national landscapes as of NOV 2023
Explain the Dutch Nitrogen case and impact on the management of the natural environment.
The Dutch Nitrogen case, also known as the Dutch-N case, was a court ruling that forced the Netherlands to address its high nitrogen emissions. The ruling was the result of a challenge by an environmental NGO to the Netherlands’ system for protecting Natura 2000 areas from nitrogen pollution. The court found that the Dutch legislation was too lax.
The case led to a reassessment of how the EU interprets pollution-related legislation, particularly for nitrogen and phosphorus emissions. The ruling established that when an internationally important site is failing to meet its required conditions due to nutrient pollution, the potential for new development to add to the nutrient load is limited.
The Netherlands has been dealing with excessive nitrogen deposition for many years, which is harmful to nature and public health. The country has the second highest nitrogen balance in Europe. The government’s plan to address the crisis includes: Cutting the national livestock herd by a third over eight years, Buying out farmers, Relocating farms near vulnerable natural areas, and Making farms more sustainable.
what was Wyatt v Fareham BC (2021)?
Wyatt v Fareham Borough Council was a case in which the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against a 2021 High Court judgment that upheld a planning permission granted by Fareham Borough Council. The case concerned a challenge to the council’s decision to grant planning permission for eight homes in the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA).
Nutrient neutrality
The residents claimed that the council’s decision did not comply with the Habitats Regulations and did not sufficiently protect wildlife sites. The case also concerned the correct approach to applying Natural England’s 2018 advice on Nutrient Neutrality