What is What is High Nature Value High Nature Value

Farmland??Farmland??

What is What is High Nature Value High Nature Value

Farmland??Farmland??

Gwyn JonesGwyn Jones

European Forum on Nature Conservation & European Forum on Nature Conservation & PastoralismPastoralism

Outline of the talkOutline of the talkOutline of the talkOutline of the talk

Development of the conceptDevelopment of the concept Some examplesSome examples Links to and overlap with other Links to and overlap with other

conceptsconcepts What it might not be….What it might not be…. Some dangersSome dangers

1980’s – farming destroys nature1980’s – farming destroys nature1980’s – farming destroys nature1980’s – farming destroys nature

Protect nature from peopleProtect nature from peopleProtect nature from peopleProtect nature from people

And lessen the destruction by:And lessen the destruction by:And lessen the destruction by:And lessen the destruction by:

Stricter rulesStricter rules Better technologyBetter technology Agri-environment paymentsAgri-environment payments Decoupling of subsidies from Decoupling of subsidies from

productionproduction

A different view…..A different view….. A different view…..A different view…..

The “grey area” is large!The “grey area” is large!The “grey area” is large!The “grey area” is large!

The “grey area” is important!The “grey area” is important!The “grey area” is important!The “grey area” is important!

““Low-intensity farming”Low-intensity farming”““Low-intensity farming”Low-intensity farming” Low agro-chemical inputLow agro-chemical input Low energy inputLow energy input Lots of room for ecological Lots of room for ecological

processesprocesses But.. Often high labour inputBut.. Often high labour input And.. Low intensity is relative to And.. Low intensity is relative to

carrying capacitycarrying capacity So term “High Nature Value” now So term “High Nature Value” now

usedused

HNV farmland is a spectrumHNV farmland is a spectrumHNV farmland is a spectrumHNV farmland is a spectrum

LOW intensityLOW intensity

High % semi-natural High % semi-natural vegetationvegetation

- “Type 1”- “Type 1”

Small-scale Small-scale mosaicmosaic

- “Type 2”- “Type 2”

Type 1Type 1Type 1Type 1

Semi-natural vegetationSemi-natural vegetation

dominatesdominates

Type 2Type 2Type 2Type 2

Low-intensity mosaicsLow-intensity mosaics

Definition drawn up forDefinition drawn up forEuropean Environment AgencyEuropean Environment Agency

Definition drawn up forDefinition drawn up forEuropean Environment AgencyEuropean Environment Agency

“High Nature Value farmland consists of those areas in Europe where agriculture is a major (usually the dominant) land use and which support or are associated with either a high species and habitat diversity or the presence of species of European conservation concern or both”

Three key features of HNV farmlandThree key features of HNV farmlandThree key features of HNV farmlandThree key features of HNV farmland

ALWAYS low-intensityALWAYS low-intensity ALWAYS a high proportion of ALWAYS a high proportion of

semi-natural vegetationsemi-natural vegetation OFTEN a mosaic of habitats OFTEN a mosaic of habitats

(including non-semi-natural)(including non-semi-natural)

Is that the same as…Is that the same as…Is that the same as…Is that the same as…

Organic farming?Organic farming? Farming beautiful/historic landscapes?Farming beautiful/historic landscapes? Farming on designated/protected sites?Farming on designated/protected sites? Protecting rare breeds?Protecting rare breeds? Protecting crop genetic diversity?Protecting crop genetic diversity? Peasant farming?Peasant farming?

No, but….No, but….