The following statement was made by the Secretary of State for DEFRA, George Eustice MP, in parliament on Thursday:
Statement
In May 2018, Defra commissioned Julian Glover and an independent panel to consider how we might improve the management of our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).
Their report, the Landscapes Review, was published in September 2019. It set out a series of recommendations, including that more should be done to support nature’s recovery in these landscapes; that the status of AONBs should be strengthened; that there was a need to bring the family of protected landscapes closer together with more strategic oversight and greater opportunities for career progression; and that more funding should support public access to protected landscapes.
The government agrees that more funding should be directed towards making space for nature and supporting nature’s recovery in our protected landscapes. Since the review was published, we have been supporting important projects in our protected landscapes through our Nature for Climate Fund and Green Recovery Challenge Fund. Our future Local Nature Recovery scheme, part of the future agriculture policy, will also support the objective of nature’s recovery in our protected landscapes and beyond. I have also asked Natural England to prepare proposals for the possible designation of additional National Nature Reserves, where there is landowner support, and to consider how nature’s recovery within such designations might be supported financially through our new Landscape Recovery scheme (also part of our future agriculture policy).
The government also agrees that we should do more to support public access to protected landscapes. Today, I am announcing the new Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, which will provide additional investment to allow farmers and other land managers to work in partnership with our National Park Authorities and AONB teams to improve public access, and deliver bigger and better outcomes for the environment, for people and for places.
Natural England also will be taking forward the government’s commitment to designate additional protected landscapes and is currently considering the designation of four new areas.
- Yorkshire Wolds AONB
- Cheshire Sandstone Ridge AONB
- An extension to the Surrey Hills AONB
- An extension to the Chilterns AONB
This work will contribute to the government’s commitment of protecting 30% of our land by 2030, and boosting biodiversity, while taking forward the review’s recommendation to designate more areas of the country for their natural beauty.
Each of our protected landscapes has its own identity, and many of their functions require local accountability. However, we are also considering how their structures might be changed so that we can bring the family of protected landscapes closer together, and ensure there is more strategic direction nationally, while retaining their local functions. We will also be exploring opportunities to increase private investment, particularly by diversifying funding sources to include emerging markets in natural capital and other commercial opportunities. We are also considering options to strengthen the status and support given to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the recommendation to possibly change their name. The Government will be working closely with our partners over the coming months including local authorities and National Park Authorities, to address the review’s recommendations in full and consult on draft proposals later this year.
Well, that is not much of a response to the Glover Review – I wrote more words in response to it, and back in September 2019, than government has done so far – see here, here, here, here and here. No one could accuse DEFRA of being Deft, and apparently we will see a more fulsome government response ‘later this year’. Don’t hold your breath because DEFRA is the type of unreliable friend who turns up late for every meeting and never has their wallet with them to buy a round. This is a statement to allow government to pretend that its 30:30 announcement (30% of land area protected for nature by 2030) actually means something, it’s window dressing, and to put off the day when DEFRA actually responds in any meaningful way to a review they commissioned.
But in the DEFRA press release that accompanies the feeble announcement, we see Tony Juniper quoted as follows:
Today’s announcement signals an ambitious step forward in growing our family of precious national landscapes, as well as protecting and improving the ones we have.
One thing that has become very apparent recently, and especially during the pandemic, is the enormous benefit people get from having access to beautiful nature-rich landscapes. These can, however, be hard for many people to reach, thereby raising the question of how more can be done to bring nature and people closer together. On this, we see huge opportunities arising from the establishment of the England Nature Recovery Network, of which wilder national landscapes will be a vital part.
As Government’s statutory landscape adviser, we look forward to continuing to work closely with Government, designated landscape bodies and stakeholders to deliver more for and through England’s diverse landscapes.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ambitious-proposals-to-create-and-improve-protected-landscapes-across-england
Tony has ceased to say interesting things, it seems. The third paragraph is simply rubbing it in that DEFRA appears not to be taking any notice at all of the pretty sensible proposal from the Glover review panel to set up a separate body to run National Parks and Protected Areas – instead, they are sticking with the lapdog Natural England.
Julian Glover, who chaired the review which carries his name, said, somewhat tersely, and probably through gritted teeth:
Our national landscapes are the soul of England, beautiful, much-loved, and there for all of us, but they are also under pressure. We need to do a lot more for nature and more for people, too. Our report set out a plan for a brighter, greener future and I’m delighted that words are now being followed by action.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ambitious-proposals-to-create-and-improve-protected-landscapes-across-england
But not much action, not much action that takes any notice of the Glover review, and not much of the action that is desperately needed. DEFRA omnishambles.
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Yet one more reason, if one was needed, to rid Defra of George Eustice.
The problem is they are all bad. Another barrel of rotten apples!
A useless weak response as you say and a pretty awful statement by Juniper but nothing is going to change until we get rid not of Useless Eustace but this whole crock of animal effluent that is Johnson’s government.