Save Our Soils! Act now to protect your soils from the changing climate
16 February 2010
Natural England is bringing together farmers, land managers and scientists in the East of England to discuss and explore the potential effects of extreme weather on our soils and its capabilities for future production.
There are already pressures on our soils from erosion, compaction and organic matter decline due to complex interactions between underlying geology, past and existing uses and climate. Although East Anglia is known for its fertile soils it is not immune to the effects of extreme weather patterns such as more frequent heavy rains, prolonged droughts or higher temperatures.
Natural England’s Regional Director, Shaun Thomas said: “The success of our agricultural industry depends on the climate. Land managers have a vital role to play in adapting to and mitigating climate change. Protecting and improving the productivity of our soils will enable land managers to be prepared for environmental change, if or when it happens.”
Over 120 farmers and land managers will be hearing about a range of strategies to manage, preserve and protect soils and increase organic matter to help soils be more resilient to climate change. Save our soils! Act now to protect your soils from the changing climate will explore a range of methods from cultivation techniques to organic material additions. The roles of Environmental Stewardship in helping farmers enhance the natural environment, planting techniques, energy crops and woodlands in soil carbon management will also be explored.
Speakers include Ceris Jones, NFU; Professor Brian Chambers, Head of Environment Science at ADAS; Richard Morris, Wimpole Hall Estate Manager and Carbon Champion for the National Trust. Topics will cover climate change and its effects on agriculture, the potential to increase carbon storage in soils and an update on Biochar and its potential uses. Practical soil management will be discussed by Ross Haddow, Manager of the Stody Estate in Norfolk.
Still in early development, Biochar, in simple terms, is a type of charcoal that can be used to draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and when formed allows the oxygen to be released yet retaining the carbon. If used as a fertiliser it can store the carbon in the ground, potentially making significant reductions in greenhouse gases, improve water quality, increase soil fertility and raise agricultural productivity.
The region’s soils vary from a few centimetres to a metre or more in depth. Although young in a world context, soils represent about 10,000 years of ecological processes and human modification. It is consequently regarded as a non-renewable resource as it cannot be re-created except within the context of geological timescales. The conference provides guidance on the risks of climate change and practical steps to ensure its longevity.
For further information contact Natural England’s Farm Events Team. Tel: 0113 230 3753. Email: farmevents@naturalengland.org.uk
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Notes for editors:
For further information contact: Linzee Kottman on 0300 060 2058/07824475359 linzee.j.kottman@naturalengland.org.uk or Heather Duncan on 07970 228388. heather.duncan@naturalengland.org.uk Out of hours 07970 098005.
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 sites, ensuring that over 3,500 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 have recently committed £6m to develop wetland areas and have detailed biodiversity action plans covering 75% of England’s species
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.
