Tackling biodiversity gain requires unity
A farmer from Cookham has called for a ‘more joined up approach to tackling biodiversity gain’.
Geoffrey Copas stated the Royal Borough’s Biodiversity Action Plan 2022-2026, which was adopted by the Royal Borough late last year was ‘mainly produced in consultation with conservation groups’, but key stakeholders and landowners ‘were only consulted later’.
Mr Copas, of Copas Farms, said: “The plan states one of the three priorities of the council is climate change and improving the national environment.
“The major problem is the cost of change, the plan proposes £80,000 for projects, £250,000 to implement the plan, which is a drop in the
ocean.
“It mentions 10 per cent biodiversity gain to be sought from future planning approvals which needless to say, needs the support of local people for planning applications to be approved and until page 50 it ignores government grants available to farmers.”
He pointed out that the plan wants 30 per cent of land set aside for nature by 2030, but 33 per cent of land in the borough is currently woodland.
“It is unoccupied by mankind, we seem to have already reached the target,” he said.
Mr Copas explained that a large arable field where one type of plant is utilised to make food ‘if developed and landscaped will increase the biodiversity of that site’.
He added that ‘92 per cent of the borough is undeveloped’, with the plan referring to ‘every living thing which includes mankind’.
He said: “Birds need nest sites, if disturbed they find another site, fortunately they don’t need planning permission.
“Mankind needs houses with gardens – society is against keeping chickens in battery cages but accepts high rise flats which were never a natural habitat for the next generation to be brought up.”
He added: “I think we need a
more joined up approach to tackling biodiversity gain to ultimately lead to a better but deliverable outcome for wildlife and mankind.”
In a reponse sent before last week’s local elections, a council spokesperson said: “The Biodiversity Action Plan was adopted by the council late last year and has objectives for Royal Borough land including woodlands, urban areas, grasslands and waterways.
“Its aim is to increase biodiversity through positive habitat management measures and partnership working, which includes with neighbouring authorities to develop a Berkshire-wide nature recovery strategy which is mandated in the Environment Act.
“The council carried out engagement work with the farming community prior to the adoption of the plan, and we are continuing to work with them to formulate a plan for farmland which we can all work towards.
“The plan has been created collaboratively with key community partners and we want to ensure more input as it is developed and implemented.
“The Rural Forum, which is attended by some of the largest farming families and businesses in the Royal Borough, is a really good arena to understand all the biodiversity measures our farming community has already implemented and how we can work with them in the future to continue this great work.”