Abstract
Work to be carried out as follows, according to specification provided by Defra. 1) To review NFU/CLA's proposed work on management descriptions and guidance for the Campaign's voluntary options, confirm they are the optimal environmentally efficient type of management taking account of likely costs to farmers, capable of being monitored, are relatively easy for farmers to manage within typical arable systems and within this framework are as similar to current types of management (eg. ELS, CSS) as possible. 2)To consider whether there is a viable environmental option that primarily delivers mitigation against one of the key environmental benefits of set-aside based on each of the proposals outlined in options V21 and V22. To describe/define the management requirement and which element(s) would contribute to the target for land in voluntary management. 3) To work out set-aside equivalents of the voluntary measures (including V21 and V22) Whilst considering the contribution of each measure to each of the 6 categories (3 for birds, other biodiversity, RP etc.), the objective is to reach an agreed way of summarising the benefits of an individual measure and if possible as a single figure for the contribution to eachtheme ie a separate figure in set-aside equivalents for birds, wider biodiversity and RP. 4) To comment on specification for baseline survey of existing extent of the voluntary measures that will be carried out in the autumn with respect to possible approaches, methodology, useful questions etc.
United Kingdom