Independent review provides recommendations for the management of protected sites on dartmoor

Press release INDEPENDENT REVIEW PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED SITES ON DARTMOOR An independent review on the management of protected sites on Dartmoor has been

published today This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government An independent review has today (12 December) published its recommendations on how protected sites on

Dartmoor can be managed in a way that delivers on legally binding environmental targets whilst supporting food production, public access and cultural and natural heritage.  The review was

commissioned by Defra earlier this year in response to stakeholder concerns over proposed changes to winter grazing on Dartmoor. It was chaired by David Fursdon and provides an independent

perspective on the management of the moor. Its recommendations follow more than 150 written submissions and over 200 conversations across three and a half months with commoners and

organisations including Dartmoor National Park Authority and Natural England.  The review makes a series of recommendations for the Government, Natural England, Dartmoor National Park

Authority and commoners on subjects such as vision and governance, operations, communication, agri-environment agreements, and grazing and vegetations management. The Government is expected

to respond in full in the coming months. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE:   * The creation of an independently chaired Dartmoor Land-Use Management Group to help deliver a land use framework and

plan for Dartmoor, improve SSSI conditions, and identify areas for data collection that will feed into the development of protected site management strategies.   * Actions to support

vegetation management including conservation grazing by cattle and ponies and controlled burning, alongside exploring the management of sheep over winter months to protect vulnerable heather

and dwarf shrubs. * An overarching agri-environment scheme, or a small number of closely integrated and coordinated schemes, that are based on the proposed plan for Dartmoor and support the

vision for Landscape Recovery.     * Improved transparency of protected site monitoring and management of these sites in line with proposals in Defra’s Nature Recovery Green Paper.  *

Increasing Natural England staffing resource and the creation of partnerships to help rebuild trust and confidence on Dartmoor.   FARMING MINISTER MARK SPENCER SAID:  > Dartmoor cannot 

either stand still or retreat into its past, so it > is vital that all parties take heed of the review’s > recommendations so we can effectively support food production, > public 

access and heritage on the moor whilst delivering much-needed > improvements for nature. >  > I would like to thank David Fursdon and the panel for their work on > this important

 review. DAVID FURSDON, CHAIR OF THE REVIEW, SAID:  > This is a time for those involved with Dartmoor to come together in > the face of climate change and biodiversity loss to protect 

and > enhance nature on the Moor. Commoners have a vital role to play in > delivering the management and grazing that contributes to this, as > do those working to re-wet the 

degraded peatland. >  > We are concerned that the processes around monitoring and evaluation > of protected sites are too opaque for all of those who are involved > in ensuring 

their success. We have proposed a series of changes to > ways of working for the commoners, Natural England, the RPA and > others, including taking decisions with a much greater 

clarity and > transparency based on evidence and collaborative working. MARIAN SPAIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF NATURAL ENGLAND SAID: > I welcome this important report and would like to thank

 David > Fursdon, panel members and all who submitted views for their hard > work. We will now work with our colleagues in Defra and the RPA, and > our partners on Dartmoor, to 

consider the recommendations and > implement the final decisions in due course. >  > We especially look forward to measures that will bring all partners > around the table to 

find collective solutions. This will help us > meet our legally binding environmental targets while properly > rewarding commoners for conservation grazing, supporting > 

nature-friendly and profitable farm businesses across Dartmoor. The review also reiterates the need for careful management of a fresh round of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) extension

negotiations, given one-year extensions will in some cases expire in the first few months of 2024. The Farming Minister is writing to HLS Agreement Holders on Dartmoor to advise them they

will be contacted ahead of the expiry of their agreements. FURTHER INFORMATION  * The review has been published on GOV UK: Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor *

Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) is part of the Environmental Stewardship scheme. Under HLS Agreements, farmers are delivering important environmental benefits on our most valuable habitats

such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). On 1 January 2023, all Environmental Stewardship agreements were updated to domestic terms and conditions. Extensions are offered to HLS

agreements holders who continue to deliver environmental outcomes. More information can be found on GOV UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/higher-level-stewardship-2023-agreement-extensions

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