The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) and the Foundation for
Common Land (FCL) have joined forces to warn DEFRA that it’s new
Environmental Land Management (ELM) Scheme risks failing in its
application to common land.
A joint statement from both organisations issued today highlights
the importance of common land in England which extends to
approximately 400,000 ha. 21% of England’s SSSI area is
registered common land and 12% of all Scheduled Ancient Monuments
are on common land. This land is managed by around 3900 active
commoners with rights on this land in addition to the owners of
that land.
The TFA has already warned DEFRA that many tenant farmers,
particularly those occupying on Farm Business Tenancies, could
well be excluded from entry into the new ELM scheme due to a
combination of restrictive tenancy clauses and short terms which
will provide landlords with a right of veto on decisions to enter
new schemes.
TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn, said “The problem here is that
agricultural tenancies and common land are part of the rich
tapestry of the way in which agricultural land in England is
occupied and managed. DEFRA has never properly grasped this in
the way in which it develops policy. Despite the ongoing input
from organisations such as TFA and FCL, DEFRA appears to be
unable to put in place the correct measures.”
The TFA and FCL argue that there has been widespread failure in
the operation of legacy schemes such as Environmental Stewardship
and Countryside Stewardship on common land. The administration of
these schemes has relied upon the creation of self-governing
Commons Associations to facilitate, administer and confirm
compliance with scheme rules. TFA and FCL believe it is not
appropriate for Commons Associations, made up of representatives
of the beneficiaries of the schemes, to adequately provide the
necessary scheme governance required to ensure that they operate
both fairly and deliver the public benefits required.
Dr Julia Aglionby, FCL Executive Director, said “The opportunity
for Commons to deliver more for nature, recreation, landscape and
carbon storage will be lost if DEFRA does not strengthen
governance of common land ELM agreements. Independent
facilitation and administration of schemes on commons is
essential to both deliver value for money to the taxpayer and
reward participants fairly. We ask DEFRA to work more closely
with us, value the cultural heritage of pastoral systems and
learn from experience to make that a reality in the post Common
Agricultural Policy world.”
DEFRA must do better to understand the complex nature of business
structures that operate within domestic agriculture. The use and
management of common land is a centuries old tradition now bound
up in statute, regulations and bylaws and is an important part of
our cultural heritage. This necessitates that a bespoke approach
is taken to the implementation and administration of
agri-environment schemes on common land.
-Ends-
Notes for Editors:
The joint statement issued by both organisations can be read in
full by clicking
here.
