Moorland management
What do the uplands really give us?
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- Monday, 19 April 2010 07:47 Tamsin Morris Hits: 405
Researchers from the Centre for Rural Economy at Newcastle University have published a policy practice note which suggests that subsidy systems should be changed to reward land managers in upland areas for some of the less tangible functions that these areas provide. The policy note considers some of the currently rather un-appreciated functions that uplands provide which help to keep our ecosystems ticking along. Some of these 'ecosystem services', as they're known, include water supply, carbon storage and flood management. They suggest that subsidies should be altered to reward upland farmers for managing the land in a way which supports and enhances those ecosystem services. At a time when Scotland is considering its land use strategy, the document makes interesting (and refreshingly quick) reading and you can download a copy here.
