EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.

Defra: Defra have announced an immediate programme of environmental monitoring of farmland following the EU Agriculture Council's decision to set a 0% rate of set-aside for 2008. The monitoring will be established under Defra's Agricultural Change and Environment Observatory (ACEO) to assess what happens on the ground in the next few months and to provide a firmer basis for future action.
 
If there is evidence of significant environmental impact - including on the bird population - as a result of the zero percent rate of set aside in 2008, then the Government will look at what action to take.
 
Defra will also be looking at how the Entry Level (ELS) strand of Environmental Stewardship can help to mitigate any environmental impact, as part of the current review of scheme progress and their preparations for the CAP Healthcheck.
Press release ~ Defra, UK - Farming - Single Payment Scheme ~ Natural England ~ Environment Agency ~ Entry Level (ELS) strand of Environmental Stewardship
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