Today we have published a review of the evidence of the administration of the Dartmoor locations of special scientific interest (SSSIS). As an evidence -controlled organization, we use this to inform our advice to farmers and stakeholders in Dartmoor. Our task is to take the best available evidence and use it in the local context. This is necessary to achieve the best possible result for nature and for people who work, live and visit Dartmoor.
This blog contains the ambition of Natural England and how we use evidence to inform our approach in Dartmoor. This includes recommendations for short -term extensions to existing contract agreements with a higher level (HLS) and our advice to the newly founded Dartmoor Land Use Management Group (DLUMG).
In summary, it can be said that the Natural Council is based on the following principles:
- Improvement of the natural function of Dartmoor's ecosystems to preserve the wildlife and the communities that rely on them
- Long -term cooperation and strategic planning, whereby all interests in Dartmoor work together on a common vision
- Recognizing that management is complex and dynamic – there are factors that we do not fully understand, and further research and scaled field tests are required to close gaps in evidence
- Agricultural companies are the key to sustainable management
- Development of a holistic approach on the landscape scale for grazing management
Our recent complete surveys show that there is a lot more work to do to improve the condition of the SSSIs of Dartmoor. All SSSIs in Dartmoor remain in an unfavorable state. For many areas, grazing patterns are a factor. This includes both grazing and grazing. Every successful long -term plan to recreate habitats means that the pasture regime has to adapt. The type, the numbers, timing and the place of pasture animals are the key. However, we also know that this is very difficult to achieve in practice, given the enormous extent of the uninfected Moorland Commons.
Our review of the evidence comes to the conclusion that the causes of unfavorable illnesses in Dartmoor are diverse. The factors include over and lower cattle (e.g. early summer hard cattle), excessive burning, peat cutting and drainage. The role of external factors such as nitrogen deposit and climate change is not easy to prove at Dartmoor, but should not be ignored in the event of management decisions.
The approach to restoring the SSSSis of Dartmoor must take all of these factors into account. In fact, the application of strict limits for grazing in Dartmoor can endanger the necessary agricultural systems. These agricultural systems are part of the restoration of the mosaic habitats, which make Dartmoor a special place for nature. How to control vegetation management in large, complex and unknown areas is still poorly known.
Test solutions in the unique properties of Dartmoor are required. We therefore work closely with the DLUMG and other strategic initiatives to achieve the best ecological results for protected areas. The testing of innovative approaches that are supported by robust experimental design and academic stricts will increase our future proof and advice.
Much of the evidence in this review comes from smaller and controllable areas as dartmoor. It is difficult to achieve a measure of control over Dartmoor's unknown moorland for continuing improvement in the condition. Even if this control level could be reached, we would have to take the other factors into account. All of this leads to our conclusions that a more holistic approach is required. This approach must ensure that we can maintain a long-term sustainable management regime. What does it mean that it must be compatible with sustainable agricultural companies. Of course, this is in line with the goals of the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group. The success of this group is of crucial importance for the recovery of nature at Dartmoor.
Many wider initiatives also give us enormous optimism for the future health of the natural environment of Dartmoor. The Southwest Peatland Partnership has developed the restoration of detailed areas of gate flurry rooms. There are also three pilots to relax landscapes that offer an exciting opportunity to offer the desired long -term and creative management. In addition, the protected landscapes indicate a gradual change in the government's efforts according to our most valued landscapes.
The stakeholders of Natural England and Dartmoor have a common goal of a wildly living landscape in harmony with a flourishing rural community. With this in mind, we have to work very closely with the DLUMG members in order to get an approach and a plan that improves and receives the special qualities of the protected locations of Dartmoor.
In the coming year we will offer HLS agreements of two years of extensions and support farmers to maximize the environmental advantages of their system. This prioritizes the protection and improvement of irreplaceable gateland in order to prevent the deterioration of the heath through targeted administration and more regular surveillance. This will also bridge the gap at a time when more clarity in terms of environmental management programs (ELMS) to support farmers if they make the right choice for their companies and for nature.
This preliminary approach sets the direction for future management and enables DLUMG Time to develop a strategy to achieve our long -term ambitions. We hope that this will pave the way for a more sustainable and strategic management system for the future of dartmoor.
The publication of the review has been published in the past week of three evidence reports from Natural England to inform measures to support the recovery of Peatland landscapes: Growth of the evidence base for the restoration of England's estimated scouts – Natural England