North Devon Pioneer Environmental Land Management (ELM) Trial
Trialling new ways of working with farmers to deliver environmental benefits
The North Devon Pioneer ELM Trial is one of 55 ‘Test and Trial’ projects Defra have commissioned to help inform the new Environmental Land Management Scheme. The scheme will be phased in over the next four years to replace the existing Basic Payment Scheme and Countryside Stewardship. ![]()
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A Natural Capital Strategy for North Devon
This Natural Capital Strategy is a product of the North Devon Landscape Pioneer, one of four pioneers set up to test approaches in the 25 Year Environment Plan. It will be of interest to those with responsibility for people and nature in North Devon, as well as a wider audience committed to protecting and enhancing the benefits people get from nature everywhere.
This strategy covers the land area of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. Like many rural areas North Devon faces many environmental challenges. Our strategy identifies four priorities for urgent action. These are: protecting and improving water quality, minimising flood risk, increasing carbon capture and storage and managing tourism and recreation pressure
The strategy then describes the strategic solutions to support and enhance these priorities. Solutions involve changes to the way land is used and managed, as well as changes to governance.
Annex 1 shows the natural capital evidence collated and used during our process.
The Natural England Commissioned Report number 291 – Root Cause Analysis for the North Devon Landscape Pioneer – reports the work done by the pioneer to understand the priorities in more detail and develop potential solutions.
The Natural England Commissioned Report number 292 – Natural Capital Investment Opportunities for North Devon – explores four solutions which could be developed into innovative funding opportunities.
This strategy covers the land area of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. Like many rural areas North Devon faces many environmental challenges. Our strategy identifies four priorities for urgent action. These are: protecting and improving water quality, minimising flood risk, increasing carbon capture and storage and managing tourism and recreation pressure
The strategy then describes the strategic solutions to support and enhance these priorities. Solutions involve changes to the way land is used and managed, as well as changes to governance.
Annex 1 shows the natural capital evidence collated and used during our process.
The Natural England Commissioned Report number 291 – Root Cause Analysis for the North Devon Landscape Pioneer – reports the work done by the pioneer to understand the priorities in more detail and develop potential solutions.
The Natural England Commissioned Report number 292 – Natural Capital Investment Opportunities for North Devon – explores four solutions which could be developed into innovative funding opportunities.
Further information
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Landscape Pioneer
North Devon Landscape Pioneer
North Devon chosen to explore future environmental management in innovative pioneer project
The Landscape Pioneer is led by Natural England (NE) and is based in the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This Pioneer is testing the use of natural capital in determining environmental priorities and agreeing actions to target them. At its heart is an innovative process for creating a shared plan that identifies where investment in natural capital is most needed and securing new investment for those projects in the Pioneer area.
The Pioneer has already mapped how existing funding for natural capital is distributed across the Biosphere Reserve. Then building on the work the Biosphere has previously done the Pioneer identified the ecosystem services that are provided by the different land uses and has been working with stakeholders to value them and assess how they change over time. Investment priorities – such as water quality or natural flood management – will be established jointly with partners, based on this assessment.
The priority programmes are:
Where possible we will be bringing the Marine and Landscape Pioneer programmes together to demonstrate how we manage the area as a single system.
If you would like to know more about the project please contact Dr Jo Traill Thomson at: jo.traillthomson@naturalengland.org.uk
North Devon chosen to explore future environmental management in innovative pioneer project
The Landscape Pioneer is led by Natural England (NE) and is based in the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This Pioneer is testing the use of natural capital in determining environmental priorities and agreeing actions to target them. At its heart is an innovative process for creating a shared plan that identifies where investment in natural capital is most needed and securing new investment for those projects in the Pioneer area.
The Pioneer has already mapped how existing funding for natural capital is distributed across the Biosphere Reserve. Then building on the work the Biosphere has previously done the Pioneer identified the ecosystem services that are provided by the different land uses and has been working with stakeholders to value them and assess how they change over time. Investment priorities – such as water quality or natural flood management – will be established jointly with partners, based on this assessment.
The priority programmes are:
- Testing the Net Gain policy in the Biosphere with the local planning authorities
- New Environmental Land Management Scheme; trying new approaches for the post EU Exit agri-environment support scheme including business support.
- Natural Capital Strategy and associated investment plans; to identify the key investments in the Biosphere's natural assets that will deliver optimised benefits and the innovative finance mechanisms to deliver the change
Where possible we will be bringing the Marine and Landscape Pioneer programmes together to demonstrate how we manage the area as a single system.
If you would like to know more about the project please contact Dr Jo Traill Thomson at: jo.traillthomson@naturalengland.org.uk
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