National Issues

Landscape and Habitat Quality, and Species Diversity

Britain is made up of a number of diverse landscapes including: mountains, open moorland, coastal plains, and wooded valleys. These provide a range of habitats, which in turn support a number of different species.

However, human development is putting a huge strain on landscape and habitat quality.

The intensification of agriculture has led to the loss of hedgerows and flower rich meadows.

Other pressures include mineral extraction, landfill sites, and the increased development of transport networks and housing.

This human activity is a major factor in contributing towards species extinction. In the UK, we have lost over 100 species this century, with many more species and habitats in danger of disappearing.

Rural Land Management

Farmers can have a huge impact on the environment as the agricultural sector occupies about 70% of the land in England. Although their activities can generate significant environmental benefits through environmental stewardship of the land, they can also cause a number of negative effects, including:

• Modern intensive farming practices have had a huge impact on the UK’s biodiversity, and landscapes. The expansion of farming has led to the loss of habitats through the removal of woodland, pastureland, hedgerows and the draining of wetlands.
• Livestock farming contributes to about 85% of the UK’s ammonia emissions. This leads to increased acidification of sensitive soils and waters.
• The use of fertilisers, slurry, silage and pesticides can lead to phosphates, nitrates and other potentially harmful chemicals being leached into watercourses. They also pollute the soil and cause a build up of contaminants in the food chain.
• Intensive farming causes changes to soil management, which can contribute to soil erosion and reduction of soil fertility.
• The use of pesticides can harm the ecosystem as they kill insects, other larger species, and also plant species considered to be weeds. This results in a lower biodiversity. Pesticide use also affects ecosystems, as fewer food sources will be available for animals, birds and insects.
• Together, the above effects of intensive farming have had a serious impact on biodiversity. Farmland bird populations have fallen by 42% between 1970 and 2002 (UK Sustainable Development headline indictor on populations of wild birds in Britain).

Other pressures to rural areas include:

• Increased levels of personal mobility, advances in telecommunications technology, economic changes, and the desire to live in rural areas have all put pressure on the countryside to accommodate development.
• Tourism represents an important opportunity for rural areas to diversify local economies and enhance the countryside. However, without the proper controls, tourism can threaten the landscape character and result in an increase in traffic and litter levels.
• Mineral extraction and landfill sites.

Coastal Environment

Our marine environment provides us with a number of valuable resources including food; minerals and energy supplies; and biodiversity. Up to half of the UK’s biodiversity can be found in our seas, and the areas around our coastline are of particular landscape and wildlife importance. The coastal environment is also a valuable tourism and residential asset.

Threats facing the coastal environment include:

• The overexploitation of commercial fish stocks
• Industrial waste and pollution from tankers
• Sewage treatment plants
• Mineral and energy extraction
• New developments and flood defence work
• Climate change also poses a significant threat to coastal environments, as changes in sea temperature would alter habitats, which in turn impacts marine species. Any rises in the sea level would also risk the surrounding environment.

The Townscape and Historic Environment

Our towns and sites of historical importance are important to protect and enhance as they tell us about our history and contribute to the local character. They enrich our quality of life and can be an important driver of economic growth through opportunities to develop tourism. For example, well-maintained historic streets and town centres help to attract visitors who benefit the economy by using local shops, restaurants and other businesses.

There are a number of threats to our townscape and historic environment including:

• Development
• Mineral extraction
• Agriculture and forestry
• Increasing number of vehicles and road networks
• Pressures from sources such as visitors, vandals, and natural processes such as scrub growth.
• Climate change with rising sea levels will have an impact as important coastal sites maybe eroded or flooded.