Benefits from changing government policy

What does success look like?

Farming and forestry systems that sustain a high-quality natural environment, store and sequester carbon, produce healthy food, high quality fibre and other products, are economically viable and deliver a wide range of public goods.

How will this be achieved?

The principal drivers for both agriculture and forestry are government policy and commodity markets which dictate the demand and supply of products. The Dartmoor National Park Partnership Plan has an important role in guiding and focusing action to achieve local results. Collaboration with the farming and forestry community is essential in developing activities which are relevant and deliverable in partnership.

Dartmoor’s stakeholders will achieve greater benefit from changing government policy by nurturing the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the changing business environment and by enabling coordination between farmers, foresters, agencies and other stakeholders.  Specific initiatives include:

  • Together, stakeholders will produce a spatial and visual expression to the National Park Partnership Plan, developed through close working with all stakeholders including farmers, commoners and foresters.  This work will build on the Dartmoor Moorland Vision, that was prepared in partnership with the farming and land management community and relevant statutory bodies.  The aim is to develop a spatial approach, to the delivery of all public benefits – identifying priority areas and setting local priorities for the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) (including woodland creation) and other investment.  This spatial approach, covering the whole of the National Park, will provide a framework for land management plans at a common and individual farm level
  • Working with the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project to develop a relevant and targeted programme to support farm businesses. This will inform core activities relating to livestock, soils, and grassland with a focus on encouraging and facilitating innovation that is designed to deliver environmental enhancement and economic sustainability. A key task is to help farms adapt to change embracing new opportunities arising from the agricultural transition. This includes the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) and other strategic tools to improve business resilience and performance.

Partners will contribute to the evolving agricultural and forestry framework and specifically the new National Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS). The scheme will be a key tool to maintain and enhance Dartmoor’s natural and cultural capital, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support viable businesses.  We will do this by:

  • Deliver the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme on Dartmoor (2021 – 2024). We will ensure learning from the programme is fed into the design and development of the new ELMS
  • Seek funding to extend the work of the Dartmoor Test and Trial in partnership with the farming and land-owning communities and other stakeholders.
  • In partnership with farmers, foresters, landowners and others develop Integrated Land Management Plans for key commons and priority areas with the aim of developing a planned approach to environmental and cultural management and enhancement.
  • From 2022-2025, in partnership with farmers, foresters, landowners and others pilot approaches to Nature Recovery areas (NRAs).