Member of Farm Environment Plan | Habitat Suitability Index | NBN Gateway | Cairngorms NP | Go Native Awards | London Conference The World Conservation Union Number 52 Ecology & Environmental Management June N RACTICE 2006 IBulletin of the InstituteP of Ecology and Environmental Management The Farm Environment There is a growing pool of trained FEP surveyors, including land agents, ecologists, agronomists and agriculturalists, but the demand for good Plan: A Call for Surveyors surveyors is rising as farmers and landowners become more aware of Environmental Stewardship and the benefi ts it can bring to their business Tom Keatley CEnv MIEEM and the environment. What is Environmental Stewardship? A valued tool in an ecologist’s armory of skills has always been the Environmental Stewardship is Defra’s new agri-environment scheme that application and adaptation to fi eld and habitat surveying techniques. A provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver recent publication by IEEM on Guidelines to Survey Techniques highlights the effective environmental management on their land. The scheme is intended wide range of surveys used in the fi eld by ecologists and environmentalists. to build on the recognised success and best practices of the Environmentally The new Farm Environment Plan (FEP), a pre-requisite for entry into the Sensitive Areas and Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which between them Higher Level of Defra’s Environmental Stewardship Scheme, adds another have established agreements with over 30,000 farmers and land managers dimension to structured surveys and environmental audits. Although the covering over one million hectares. FEP is specifi c to the Defra run scheme, it provides a means for ecologists and environmentalists to apply their survey skills. It is a source of income, Environmental Stewardship’s primary objectives are to: with fair payment rates, particularly for anyone wishing to develop their • conserve wildlife (biodiversity); environmental business and build upon their rural contacts. It also provides • maintain and enhance landscape quality and character; a valuable opportunity to work closer with the farming sector in making a • protect the historic environment and natural resources; and positive contribution to conserving and enhancing biodiversity. • promote public access and understanding of the countryside. Cowslip and other species along a fi eld marginmargin in Hampshire INSTITUTEEcology and OF Environmental ECOLOGY AND Management ENVIRONMENTAL – In MANAGEMENTPractice No. 5 2●, June45 SOUTHGATE 2006 STREET ● WINCHESTER ● HAMPSHIRE ● SO23 9EH ● TEL: 01962 8686261 E d i t o r i a l Ecology and Environmental Management In Practice No. 52, June 2006. ISSN 0966-2200 Editor for this issue: Jim Thompson. Is British Business Anti the Assistant editor for this issue: Jason Reeves Photo Credits: Michelle Appleby, Nick Jackson, Jason Reeves Environment? In Practice is published quarterly by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. It is supplied to all members of IEEM and is also available by subscription (£30 per year, UK . £40 overseas). In Practice will publish news, comments, technical papers, letters, Institute news, reviews and listings On 22 May there was an interesting event – a traditional debate – between of meetings, events and courses. In Practice invites contributions on any aspect of ecology and Sir Digby Jones, the retiring Chief Executive of the CBI and Robert Napier of environmental management but does not aim to publish scientific papers presenting the results of original WWF on the theme – Environmental leadership – Burden or Opportunity research. Contributions should be sent to the Editor at the IEEM office (address below). Opinions expressed by contributors to In Practice are not necessarily supported by the Institute. Readers for UK Business? Robert Napier started off with a plea for a new paradigm should seek appropriate professional guidance relevant to their individual circumstances before following for business. any advice provided herein. Advertising: Full page: £400, half-page: £200, quarter-page: £100, eighth-page: £50. The Institute does 1. Stop regarding the environment as a burden. not accept responsibility for advertising content or policy of advertisers, nor does the placement of 2. Restrict the use of energy. advertisements in In Practice imply support for companies, individuals or their products or services advertised herein. 3. Encourage members to embrace a low carbon economy 4. Reflect these views in lobbying. Contents By contrast he saw the CBI leading the race to the bottom of environmental 1, 3-5 The Farm Environment Plan: A Call for Surveyors responsibility. Tom Keatley CEnv MIEEM 6-7 Applying a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) to Assist Site Digby Jones accepted the reality of climate change and problems this posed. But further than that, the response from the CBI was that business should Management Objectives for the Great Crested Newt not be required to carry more regulatory burdens if its competitiveness in Dorian Latham CEnv MIEEM the global market place is to be maintained. The Government appears to 8-9 The Gateway to UK Biodiversity Information give this notion some credence. The subtext was also 'the UK plays by Mandy Henshall the rules of environmental legislation and good practice and the rest of 10-11 Shaping the Future of the Cairngorms National Park the world does not, so how does the UK compete? In any case only 1% Murray Ferguson MIEEM of the world’s population lives in the UK so what difference will it really 12 Go Native Awards: Judging the Grassland Category make?' I found it disturbing that while there were passing references to the other burdens suffered by business there was no attempt rank. But Dr Eirene Williams CEnv MIEEM the CBI seems to be singling out environmental issues almost as if these 13 England's Trees, Woods and Forests: A Consultation were the very hardest burdens to bear. Anyone running an SME (applies Document to many IEEM members) will know only too well the burdens of company 14 IEEM Consultations in 2006 returns, employment legislation, corporation tax, pensions, etc. – somehow Jason Reeves AIEEM only mentioned within the context of the overall ‘Nanny State’. Robert 14-15 Disciplinary Training Workshop Napier tried to get across the point that the environment could be good for Dr Andy Tasker CEnv MIEEM business, a point made elsewhere by others including Barbara Young of the Environment Agency. The business advantages of environmental audits, 15 North East Section Meeting Report energy and cost savings and the comparative success of ethical investments 16-17 UK Network of Environmental Economists Annual all point in this direction. The great crested newt was raised by Digby Jones Conference and this now seems to be the main stick to beat environmentalists around 17 Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology Lecture the head – closely followed by the Dartford warbler! But the UK is not 18 EcIA Guidelines the only country where a single species has called into question major 19-20 Transport Conference Report development. The tension between the logging industry and conservation Nick Jackson AIEEM of the spotted owl in Oregon is legendary. At the London Conference in May we had a presentation from Helen Byron on the EU funded ‘Via Baltica’ and 20 Join a Committee / Run a Workshop the numerous questions raised over its route and the impact on protected Nick Jackson AIEEM areas in Poland – but again jobs and the economy is the cry. Mind you, it 21 IUCN News would be interesting to calculate the annual income to IEEM members from 22 EFAEP News the great crested newt. The Dartford warbler is now supposedly a major 23 SocEnv News obstruction to housing development in the Southeast and the howls of 24-25 Institute News protest from business grow louder and may even reach those of the spotted 26-27 Recent Publications owl in Oregon. So the message from business was that the environment is 28 Tauro-Scatology Fashion Advice OK so long as it does not cost much to protect, does not stand in the way of commercial development and should not be given priority where it may lead 29-33 In the Journals to job losses. To what extent is this now a view shared by the Government? 34 News in Brief And I wonder, if the Government’s silence over the Environmental Liabilities 35 New and Prospective Members Directive and the non appearance of the consultation on its incorporation 36 Diary into UK law is part of this story? Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Jim Thompson Patrons: Prof. David Bellamy, Prof. Tony Bradshaw, Sir Martin Doughty, Prof. Charles Gimingham, Mr John Humphrys, Dr Duncan Poore, The Earl of Selborne & Baroness Barbara Young Executive Director: Dr Jim Thompson Deputy Executive Director: Linda Yost Membership Officer: Anna Thompson Education Officer: Nick Jackson External Relations Officer: Jason Reeves President: Dr Chris Spray Vice-President: Dr Eirene Williams President Elect: Dr Andy Tasker Secretary: Dr Janet Swan Treasurer: Dr Alex Tait The Institute is immensely grateful to those organisations listed IEEM aims to raise the profile of the profession of ecology and environmental management, to establish, maintain below who have made financial contributions or provided substantial and enhance professional standards, and to promote an ethic of environmental care within the profession and ‘help in kind’ to support its activities during 2005/2006 to clients and employers of the members. IEEM Office: 45, Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9EH. Tel: 01962 868626, Fax/Ans: 01962 868625. Email: [email protected] Website: www.ieem.net British Ecological Society IEEM is a Company limited by guarantee, no. 2639067. MEMBERSHIP Environment Agency Full £110 (outside UK: £80) Associate £75 (outside UK: £55) Retired £50 Affiliate £50 Student £20 Full membership is open to those with three years’ experience, and Associate membership with less experience. Appropriate qualifications are usually required. Details are given in the Membership criteria.