Natural environment policy to take new direction
DEFRA has abandoned their initial separated Natural Environment Policy and have this week released the Ecosystem Approach Action Plan, which congregates the features of the natural environment as a whole.
Originally Defra had applied individual policies to what were classed as the ‘working parts’ of the natural environment. These were seen in the forms of; wildlife, water, soil, and air quality, however this new policy will see these features brought together.
This move in policy formation is believed to enhance the current rural environment we see, as ecosystem services, being air, water, food and fuel, are what underpin human health, wellbeing and prosperity.
Defra have updated their views on the idea that there is a high dependency held between living things and their physical environment and when an alteration is forced on one facet, a positive or negative outcome is seen on the other.
To publicise the views of this strategy and to inform policy-makers, economists and the general public, Defra has produced an Introductory Guide to Valuing Ecosystem Services.
The Ecosystems Approach Action Plan will focus its attention on securing the following:
- taking a more holistic approach to policy-making and delivery, with the focus on maintaining healthy ecosystems and ecosystem services
- ensuring that the value of ecosystem services is fully reflected in decision-making
- ensuring environmental limits are respected in the context of sustainable development, taking into account ecosystem functioning
- taking decisions at the appropriate spatial scale while recognising the cumulative impacts of decisions
- applying adaptive management of the natural environment to respond to changing pressures, including climate change.
Defra’s Natural Environment Strategic Unit will monitor and evaluate the delivery of all the actions and have stated that a report on progress will be published by the end of 2009.
For further information, please contact Richard Abraham in Ashby on 01530 410886.
- Ashby de la Zouch
- 01530 412821
- Banbury
- 01295 271 555
- Knutsford
- 01565 757970
- Market Harborough
- 01858 410 200
- Newark
- 01949 851815
- Southampton
- 02380 883150
- Stafford
- 01785 220 044
- Worcester
- 01905 453275
