Delivering the Plan
Delivery of the Vision is a shared responsibility, led by the National Park Authority but dependent on maintaining existing, strong partnership working and forging new partnerships. It will involve everyone with an interest in the future of Dartmoor, in particular those who manage the land, national agencies, local authorities, local communities, businesses, interest groups, the voluntary sector and those people who visit the National Park. With this in mind the term ‘we’ is used frequently throughout the plan when referring to the aims and objectives described, in this context ‘we’ means all stakeholders who may be able to play a part in delivering these aims.
As well as this continued partnership working, the Partnership Plan will require existing resources to be aligned around delivery of the Vision, and significant new sources of funding to be secured.
The Partnership Plan sits alongside the recently adopted Dartmoor National Park Local Plan, which is another important statutory document for Dartmoor and provides the planning framework for decisions regarding development and the use of land. The Partnership Plan and Local Plan are both designed to help deliver the statutory purposes of the National Park: to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage; and to promote understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities. The two Plans have been developed over a similar timeframe and so are closely aligned in what they are seeking to achieve. The decisions that the Authority makes in relation to planning are also an important element of how the Partnership Plan will be delivered.
Farmers and land managers are central to achieving this Plan, underpinned by delivery mechanisms such as the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), national policy, and local support through the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project and partner organisations. The new ELMS will influence how farmers, foresters and land managers will be rewarded for delivering a range of public benefits including clean water, natural beauty, abundant nature, and cultural heritage. Food is not defined as a public benefit for the purpose of ELMS, but high quality food production has been, and will continue to be, an important part of Dartmoor’s landscape.
There is also a significant amount of human and cultural capital that can be harnessed to help deliver of the Plan, through the active support of our local communities, partner organisations, and volunteers.