Defra tenders £200k research project on current environment harms caused by farming in England The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has gone out to tender with a contract for a research project on current environment harms caused by farming and land management activities in England worth an estimated £200,000. Defra is looking to establish […]
Another example of the way Defra and Ministers are approaching the growing problem of nutrient pollution from farming and other inputs. The most recent site example is the downgrading of ecological status on the Somerset levels. Angling Trust ‘Government says it has ‘no legal obligation’ to produce reports – six years after consent order. WWF, […]
There is a torrent of information on the Defra website at present in connection with sustainable farming standards, including on how land managers can create lakes and ponds to benefit wildlife and improve the landscape. Defra ‘Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot: environmental outcomes and benefits The 8 standards include one on ‘Water Body Buffering’ will help […]
The long pause in the Environment Bill has prompted more ideas for what might be included and several of these have been incorporated into the Bill – notably on sewage pollution from storm overflows and state of nature targets for wildlife. Defra Environment Bill continues through Parliament ‘New amendments will include legally-binding 2030 species target […]
The appointment of Richard Benyon as Defra minister in the House of Lords has prompted a rethink within the NFFO on its approach to the management of marine protected areas. In a long blog post, NFFO sets out its views and concerns: “To this point, our approach has been to challenge the Government’s shift from […]
Defra ‘In a speech delivered at Forestry England’s Delamere Forest, Environment Secretary George Eustice announced new measures to tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis and deliver our net zero commitment. The Minister announced new action plans on trees and peatlands, as well as plans to boost biodiversity through a new species reintroduction task force and amendments […]
Ali Hood Shark Trust: ‘Action Plan for Animal Welfare launched: opportunities for marine species. In a first of its kind, the Government published an action plan for animal welfare. Included in the plan were specific actions for elasmobranchs: ‘Defra signals intent to tighten domestic shark conservation legislation, building on existing fins-naturally-attached requirements by proposing a ban […]
New Environment Bill provisions to tackle storm overflows – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Environment Bill will include new legal duties to tackle sewage discharges into rivers and help protect our waterways. Three new measures on storm overflows, announced last month by Defra, will be added by government amendment to the Environment Bill later this year. The Bill […]