-> Released by 'Natural England' the 'State of the Natural Environment' report for 2008 - Page 2
The top level in European environmental protection in agricultural practice is what we have in organic
farming that make use only of organic based resources (according to the 2091/92 CE Regulation and following ones). But when we have
certain bad weather conditions, organic farming can often offer us only a very low profitability, because of it cannot utilize, for
example, syntetic fertilizers and pesticides to nourish and protect the croplands.
For the reasons above, those farmers who practice organic farming, in order to increse the profitability of this very low
input agricultural practices, can usually profit by a more easy access to RDP agricultural subsidies. The organic products are certified
following different schemes by some private bodies. Besides all over the Europe are Organic Farmers Association that promote
this farming tecnique and in many cases also help farmers advising them in trading their products.
The sustainable farming get agricultural biodiversity (= wildlife-species) increased, a circumstance that
also help farmers to reduce the needs of agrochemical inputs and for the same reason to reduce the costs of crop protection.
Besides, in the places where organic farming is practiced, crop rotation while acts reducing parasites and increasing soil
fertility, makes also more pleasant the landscape, of highlands and hills, places where organic farming can be more profitable
because the weather conditions are frequently more suitable to this farming tecnique.
(-> from the antecedent page, follows about the 'Natural England report')
Natural England press office tell us what are the key issues about which
we can find information in the report released last may:
They report the natural environment in England is much less rich than 50 years ago and remains under pressure from a significant
range of threats: more intense use of the land and sea; continuing economic development and climate change.
Although the character of England's landscapes has been maintened almost evewrywhere, 20% of it still show signs of neglect
and there are also significant problems related to it. For instance, lack of woodland management is causing a 50% decline
of native woodland butterflies.
Other habitats are also deteriorating (only 3% of grasslands remain rich in native plants). Stress from climate change
affects both the coast and the land, with a range of species moving northwards and upwards.
There have been major declines in populations of breeding wading birds on unprotected lowland wetland grasslands, but this
decrease of farmland bird population is slowin in those place where are used environmentally friendly farming practices,
with an improved condition, in the last 10 years, of the most important wildlife sites (Sites of Special Scientific Interest).
In this direction people can see that species such as the red kite are recolonising their former range after successful
reintroduction, and heathland birds such as nightjars and woodlarks are increasing thanks to better management of the heathland.
The findings from the report have also led Natural England to publish a
(->)'Manifesto for the Natural Environment'
(720 Kb), which outlines what needs to be done, to make better the environment and landscape conditions in UK.