25th September 2019
The Moorland Association has stated its support for many of the key recommendations made in the final report of the independent review of England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Amanda Anderson, Director of the Moorland Association, said: “The Landscapes Review was an important piece of work and affirms the importance of ensuring our great landscapes are fit for the future.
“The land that is cared for by members of the Moorland Association is at the heart of these of many of these wonderful landscapes. In broad terms, there is much to be welcomed in the review panel’s final report and it was heartening to see recognition of the contribution moor owners, land managers and gamekeepers. As the report acknowledges, they want healthy moors with good biodiversity.
“More than 90% of our members’ land carry a landscape and natural capital protection designation. Stretching over 1 million acres above the moorland line they offer some of our most wild and treasured landscapes described in the report and are managed for all to enjoy. As such, our members can offer a great deal towards the ambitions within the report for Nature Recovery Networks, hosting a National Landscape Ranger Service, offering venues for a night under the stars for children and connections with the NHS for national health and wellbeing.
“Moor owners have made very significant progress with peatland restoration. The vast majority of successful initiatives take place on our members’ land and are we are working with Natural England on its England Peatland Strategy.
“We welcome the report’s recommendations for creation of national landscapes and agree this must be supported by a third statutory purpose to include making local communities stronger ensuring the social and economic wellbeing of those that own and manage the land and the fragile local communities to which they are central.
“We agree that relevant and regular assessment of biodiversity and natural capital is currently weak and is needed to provide a measure of how we are all doing and that ELMS should be central to encouraging and rewarding land managers for doing the right thing based on these assessments. We also fully embrace partnership working. We have been integral to initiating that in the Peak District National Park and look forward to the concept rolled out to other national landscape areas.”
The full report can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-landscapes-national-parks-and-aonbs-2018-review
