Discussion topics
The economic drivers for
wild land: what are the priorities (best bets) and how can they be
sustained (encouraged)?
In what ways can wild
land add value and offer a brand to farms, estates, nature reserves,
forests and related ventures?
How can Government
bodies assist enterprises linked to wild land? e.g. through payments,
advice, training, etc
How to overcome fear of
change, perceptions, barriers eg. for landowners and farmers to take on
wilding?
RETURN to Meeting Report
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Making Wildland Pay
A
review of markets and enterprises from wild land and rewilding
Discussion in small groups
Participants
discussed the following issues in small groups and fed back their main
talking points and a key recommendation: |
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Group A.
The economic drivers for wild land: what are the priorities (best bets)
and how can they be sustained (encouraged)?
Main
talking points
1. This is
the least expensive way of managing farmland when production subsidies
are removed. But the interpretation of the ‘maintaining farmability’
requirement is tricky if scrub is allowed to develop.
2. Need to
persuade land agents that it is possible (if it is!)
3. Visitor
attractions.
4.
Ecological services eg. flood prevention, water purification, carbon
sequestration.
5. If
agricultural subsidies cease then a lot more marginal land will be taken
out of production.
Recommendation
Government needs to pay for ecological services and buy
land.
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Group
B. In
what ways can wild land add value and offer a brand to farms, estates,
nature reserves, forests and related ventures ?
Main
talking points
1. Need an
umbrella body to market the idea and the products of ‘wildland’ for
benefit of local producers and consumers.
2. Need a
definition of wildland.
3. Develop
local individual brands.
Recommendation
Develop a Feasibility Study for an umbrella body.
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Group C. How can Government bodies assist
enterprises linked to wild land? e.g. through payments, advice, training,
etc
Main
talking points
1. Tax
incentives and the whole issue of how incentives and tax breaks work is
a key influence on wildland. Tax avoidance is a driver for changing
land; conditional Inheritance Tax Exception for environmental
management?
2.
Landownership and land tenure ie. acquisition or partnership management
(the latter is demonstrated in the National Forest)
3.
Landownership – support but how? . It is uncomfortable to pay for
‘nothing’ (as it is perceived). ES payments can’t guarantee a future/
not long term. Need to recognise the value of different types of scheme.
Recommendation
The
Government must consider these issues especially with respect to
ecosystems services as well as biodiversity
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Group D.
How to overcome fear of change, perceptions, barriers eg. for
landowners and farmers to take on wilding?
Main
talking points
1. Is it
‘Wildland’ or ‘Natue Development’ (the term wildland is not always
helpful)
2. The main
barriers to overcome are public access issues and reactions against
untidiness.
3. Need to
understand any one landowner’s ‘baseline’ . What is their starting
point? How much change will they embrace? And how far can it go in this
particular circumstance?
Recommendation
Offer practical examples to help build a vision and new
perceptions amongst landowners.
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RETURN to Meeting Report
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