… don’t have a cow, man… have a forest instead!
Yes, that’s right, the UK government has unveiled plans to subsidise farmers to, essentially, re-wild their land!
If you listen carefully, you can actually hear Sir David Attenborough laughing with unbridled joy. Ok, maybe not unbridled joy but it’ll certainly squeeze a nod of approval out of the great man.
In fact, I dare say the Environmental Land Management Scheme is the most welcome news out of Downing Street since the RSPCA announced they’d finally rescued and re-homed Boris’ toupee!
But What Is The Environmental Land Management Scheme?
A mouthful, that’s what! In a nutshell, rather than receiving grants according to the the amount of land they own (as with the outgoing EU policy), the ELM will see farmers paid if they deliver:
- clean air
- clean and plentiful water
- thriving plants and wildlife
- protection from environmental hazards
- beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment
- reduction of and adaptation to climate change
Moreover, this means they’ll be paid to return cultivated land to its natural, flood-preventing, carbon catching, biodiverse state. Woodlands, wetlands, soils and meadows will be planted, restored and/or allowed to grow wild again, re-invigorating the land, flora and fauna alike. But it doesn’t end there.
Farmers will also receive funding for new equipment, aiding their transition to sustainable practices and ushering in a more eco-friendly future for us all.
“To restore stability to the planet, we must restore its biodiversity. The very thing we have removed… it’s the only way out of this crisis. We must re-wild the world… and it’s simpler than you might think.”
– Sir David Attenborough
When Will The Environmental Land Management Scheme Begin?
In short, from the 31st December 2020. Its the date that marks the end of the UK’s post-Brexit transition period and while initially the scheme will be implemented through a small-scale trial period, come 2024 Bozz and the gang hope to have the full fat ELM up and running.
Whether you’re in favour of Brexit or not, I hesitate to say this could offer a post-Brexit glimmer of hope that we can all get behind!
An ELMent Of Caution (top notch wordplay, that… I’m a writer, don’t you know!?)
While this, of course, is promising news, many environmental charities have moved to instil a sense of caution as they wait to see just what the scheme entails. With that in mind, The Wildlife Trusts highlighted the vagueness of the announcement and numerous environmentalists have moved to question the lack of urgency with which ELM is to be implemented.
In turn, this has led to suggestions that the government has diluted the scheme following concerns raised by the National Farmer’s Union.
Either way, let’s hope the government irons out the creases by 2024. Who knows, maybe they’ll even bring its full introduction forward!
Ultimately this is still pretty good news. After all, something is better than nothing and nothing is what we’ve become accustomed to.
Plus, if the scheme is half as successful as its abbreviated rock god brethren ELO, it should go some way to ensuring Mr Blue Sky shines down upon us with the temperate indifference we all need. Great stuff!
If you’d like to stay up to date with the latest ELM Scheme developments, you can read more on the UK Government’s website here. If you wouldn’t… well, don’t bother…
