Latest Natural England reports
19 January 2010
Natural England publishes a wide range of science and technical reports to help support our environmental delivery work and ensure that our advice, to Government and others, is based on the best available evidence.
The natural environment provides many benefits for people. The following reports have recently been published in support of Natural England’s work in understanding and sustaining the natural environment both now and into the future.
The reports are now available as PDFs on Natural England’s website www.naturalengland.org.uk and by following the links indicated below.
Natural England reports:
Agri-environment schemes in England 2009: (5.13mb)
: A review of results and effectiveness The most comprehensive analysis of agri-environment schemes yet undertaken, the report draws on research from the entire 22-year history of the schemes and analyses the impact they have made on England’s farmed environment.
A summary of the report is also available: Farming with Nature: Agri-environment schemes in action: (434kb)
Natural England Commissioned Reports:
NECR028 Upland Ecosystems Service: assessing the links between environment, land management and service delivery for four key services
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England’s uplands contain many of the nation’s most beloved landscapes and are nationally and internationally important for biodiversity. The uplands provide many benefits essential to our collective well-being: food, fuel, water purification, carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, adaptation to climate change and space for healthy recreation and relaxation. Together these benefits are known as ‘ecosystem services’. Our environment and its ecosystems are vulnerable; changing economic and social circumstances and the potential impact of climate change are notable causes of concern.
The report looks specifically at four ecosystem services delivered by the uplands:
- carbon storage and sequestration for climate regulation
- water quality
- flood mitigation; and
- recreation.
- The study takes a critical look at the evidence we already have, identifies the main causes of change and what kind of mitigation and management might be necessary to sustain the multiple-benefits the uplands provide to society in the long-term.
NECR029 Economic valuation of uplands ecosystem services
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This report presents a methodology for identifying how land use and management changes in the uplands can influence the economic value of the ecosystem goods and services provided. Six case studies from the English uplands are used to test this method and explore the impact of land use change on people living in or around the uplands.NECR030 Global drivers of change to 2060
. Our world is constantly changing and although we cannot predict what the future holds, it’s important to have a view of what uncertainty looks like. This report provides a combination of fourteen global causes of change that represent the most significant trends, factors and pressures that could affect the natural environment to 2060.NECR031 Scenarios compendium
. The compendium documents almost three dozen scenarios from organisations around the world, analyses their relationship to Natural England’s scenarios and clarifies how Natural England’s scenarios add value to foresight for environmental policy. In providing a foundation for Natural England’s work, this report assists as in developing our wider futures thinking, including identification of new research needs.
Natural England Research Reports:
NERR031 England’s Natural Environment in 2060
- issues, implications and scenarios 2060 might seem a long way away, but the decisions we make today will have an impact on how the natural environment will look like in the future. To make the right decisions over the next few years we need to have a clear vision of what we want for the natural environment in the next few decades. Natural England has developed four scenarios of how the world might look in 2060 and carried out an initial assessment of the long term risks and opportunities that could influence the natural environment by 2060.
Technical Information Notes:
The following Technical Information Note will help farmers working with Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme grassland options.
TIN060 The use of yellow rattle to facilitate grassland diversification in agri-environment schemes
. In the last sixty years, England has lost most of its species-rich semi-natural grassland, which is important for the wide diversity of flowers and insects it supports. Increasing the numbers and species of native wild flowers on agricultural land can go some way to restoring this valuable habitat. This technical note gives advice on how yellow rattle wild flowers can help other wild flower species establish in semi-improved grasslands, particularly in grasslands being managed under Environmental Stewardship. Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme that offers grants to farmers and land managers in England for environmentally-friendly farming.
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Notes to editors:
About Natural England
Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.
We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.
We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.
We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.
We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.
The findings of “Agri-environment schemes in England 2009: A review of results and effectiveness” are summarised in a press release Natural England report highlights vital need for green farming schemes, issued on 4 November.
The upland reports are the subject of a Natural England press release entitled Natural England launches Vision for securing the future of England’s uplands, issued on 12 November.
Natural England reports
Publication codes start with NE. These are fully designed publications, researched and written by Natural England staff.
Natural England Commissioned Reports
Publication codes start NECR. Natural England commission a range of research and follow up reports from external contractors to generate evidence. These contribute to the delivery of the robust evidence base that underpins all our activities. The views in the reports are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Natural England. However, they provide evidence and advice that help us deliver our duties.
Natural England also publish other scientific and technical reports that are not mentioned in this release:
Natural England Research Reports
Publication codes start NERR. These have the same function as commissioned reports but the research and writing has been done by Natural England staff.Research Information Notes
Publication codes start RIN. These are a summary of the Natural England Research Reports.Technical Information Notes
Publication codes start TIN. Technical Information Notes contain information and guidance on scientific and technical issues related to a broad range of work areas. They include practical advice to help our staff, partners and others implement work.Other Publications
Publication codes start NE. These support Natural England’s strategic outcomes and corporate plan. They can contain significant scientific and technical input, for example they might bring together evidence from a range of sources and provide strategic analysis and interpretation of the findings.
Our Framework for Science, Research and Evidence is set out in our Natural England Research Report NERR011.
For further information contact: The National Press Office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk out of hours 07970 098005. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk
