Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Although a number of pressures and drivers have been identified that would affect land
use up to 2015, overall land use is not projected to change dramatically. Key projected
trends include an increase in cropland as land that was previously set aside returns to
production; and declines in livestock numbers.
However, projections may mask potentially significant structural changes and changes
in production intensities, which could have significant economic and environmental
implications.
This work is now being further refined and further analysis will be carried out on the
impacts of new policies not only on land use changes but also on land management
changes and their impacts on water quality. The research will revisit the considerations
arrived at in previous studies, set a new policy baseline and re-examine the drivers of
change as well as being able to flesh out policies that in 2004 were still in process of
negotiations.
In addition to this work Defra is funding a longer term project — the Agricultural
Change and Environment (ACE) Observatory — which will monitor the impact of CAP
reform over a number of years, 2005-2008, in England. It will consider information on:
farmer's intentions and any resulting changes in patterns and practices
actual and predicted environmental outcomes which result from these changes
to establish links between the changes observed
extrapolate future environmental changes on the basis of what has been observed or
intended behavioural changes, and the best available information on the casual links
between these and longer term impacts.
Our evidence to date, therefore, indicates that current regulatory controls, including
the Nitrates Directive, and softer measures such as advice, voluntary and supportive
approaches (including CAP reform and funding through RDR and CSF Delivery project),
although valuable instruments with real benefits, will not be sufficient, on their own, to
allow us to meet WFD targets and objectives. Stronger measures will be needed to
encourage farmers to take up activities which have financial implications for their
business, and we are looking to identify the most cost-effective of our options.
Additional measures required and analysis of most cost-effective packages of
measures for tackling DWPA
Further analysis is required to enable us to make informed decisions about the most
appropriate additional measures required, and hence the most appropriate package of
measures for inclusion in WFD PoMs.
We are currently in the process of identifying the most cost-effective additional
policy options required to enable us to tackle DWPA effectively to meet WFD objectives.
Options being considered include the extension of existing Defra policies as well as the
development of brand new approaches for tackling DWPA. As part of this work we are
currently examining a range of new and existing regulatory powers that could potentially
tackle DWPA. Over ten existing regulatory powers were identified as having potential
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