Nature Recovery Networks 2022-01-27
2022-01-27
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the need for increased engagement from farmers and other land managers in England's nature recovery network.
What steps he plans to take to help increase farmer and other land manager engagement with nature recovery networks?
England's nature recovery network is backed by the national delivery partnership, which includes partners such as the Country Land and Business Association. Earlier this month, I set out further details of our new farming schemes, including local nature recovery, which will incentivise farmers to make space for nature on their land and contribute to the network.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific measures to increase engagement are not detailed beyond mentioning partnerships and incentives.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question highlights the barriers faced by constituents, particularly farmers, in understanding and accessing resources for local nature recovery initiatives.
I do not want to upset the Secretary of State, but I really like this policy and approve of it wholeheartedly. The fact of the matter is that most of our constituents are not Greta Thunberg or Bill Gates, but they want to roll up their sleeves and do something in their local community. That is why I like the schemes. I am involved in one in John Clare country, in the poet's neighbourhood, and one in Huddersfield. I speak to farmers, charities and people who really want to do that, but there is a blockage relating to how people get the money and a bit of resource to do it and how they open that up. Farmers, in particular, think it is a magical mystery tour. They want to do it but they cannot get on the journey.
It is great that we have cross-party consensus on the importance of nature. We also have the local nature recovery strategies that local authorities are putting together, making space for nature within local communities and new local nature reserves. In terms of schemes for farmers, we have already announced full details of the sustainable farming incentive and there will be many more details to come on things like landscape recovery for them to engage with.
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Assessment & feedback
The response does not address how to overcome specific funding access barriers faced by farmers.
Response accuracy