As the Government's consultation on implementing the recently reformed Common Agricultural Policy closes today (Friday 24 October 2003), wildlife advisers English Nature are calling for more of the EU agricultural subsidies to go in to green farming schemes. Secretary of State for the Environment, Margaret Beckett, played a critical role in reaching a deal in Luxembourg earlier this year that was better for the environment than the European Commission's original proposals, but English Nature insist further reform is necessary to meet important environmental targets for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and farmland birds.

The historic changes will come in to force in England in January 2005 and will revolutionise farming and change the face of the countryside by breaking the link between subsidies and production, which led to widespread environmental damage. Over-grazing by sheep across large areas of upland SSSIs is one of the major causes of their poor condition.

Alastair Rutherford, Head of Agriculture, English Nature said: "We can see considerable potential for reversing 50 years of wildlife losses across our countryside, but must guard against the risk of serious negative environmental effects of the new deal. Abandoning grazing altogether, because it is no longer profitable, can be just as serious for wildlife as over-grazing. The big disappointment of the recent reforms is that farmer's are not encouraged to manage their land for environmental benefit. They will receive a new Single Farm Payment for adhering to existing legislation and meeting a number of basic standards."

"If we want our finest wildlife sites to be in pristine condition or if we want to see a recovery in the massive declines of once common farmland birds then we need to ensure that a much greater proportion of farm support is paid through 'green farming schemes' such as Countryside Stewardship or the new pilot Entry Level Scheme."

As well as maximising the environmental benefits from the recent reforms, the government must also be well prepared for the next phase in CAP reform, which is already on the horizon. In 2006 the European Union must agree a new budget for the Rural Development Regulation of the CAP, which pays for green farming and rural development schemes. Currently the UK receives a disproportionately small share of this - only 3.5%. We need to start working now to ensure that in 2006 a much higher proportion of the CAP is used to recreate a wildlife rich, diverse and attractive countryside and that the UK gets its fair share of the budget to pay for this.

To visit the English Nature web site click here: http://www.english-nature.org/

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