DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref :
211/08) issued by The Government News Network on 4 July 2008
Environment
Secretary Hilary Benn today announced £500,000 to fund up to two
pilot projects that will explore how land management can reduce
the risk of flooding.
Land management practices can play a vital role in managing flood
risk at a local level. For example, the creation and restoration
of wetlands and woodlands can reduce the level of flooding, and in
some cases remove the risk of local flooding altogether.
These practices also produce wider environmental benefits at a
local level, including encouraging an increase in wildlife species
and habitats, reducing carbon emissions and improving water quality.
Announcing the funding at the Royal Show in Warwickshire, Hilary
Benn said:
"Last summer we saw the huge devastation that flooding can
cause and even small events can cause huge disruption to
people's lives and livelihoods. Sir Michael Pitt's
recent report on the floods highlighted how traditional flood
defences are not always appropriate or cost effective, so we must
generate a range of sustainable approaches to protect people and property.
"That's why I am inviting landowning organisations to
propose practical projects under this demonstration scheme. They
are best placed to help us understand how it can be used to reduce
flood risk.
"We can never fully eliminate the risk of flooding, but we
are working to ensure that we are better prepared to deal with
future events. This initiative will not only improve our
knowledge about how we can best deal with flooding, it will also
help look at how we can improve our biodiversity at a local level
at the same time."
Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England said:
"Any long-term approach to flood risk management must
include the vital role played by the natural environment. This new
project will aim to demonstrate that we can help to dramatically
decrease the risk of flooding in England through improved land
management practices. By increasing the natural capacity of our
environment to absorb and hold excess water, we can help to reduce
the effects of excess rainfall. In addition to reducing flood risk
this will have huge benefits for biodiversity and carbon storage."
Notes for Editors:
1. Landowners with the capacity to deliver a suitable land
management project that fits the criteria are invited to come
forward with project proposals by 29 August 2008. Outline
proposals will be assessed and one or two projects selected for a
more detailed feasibility study before the funding is committed.
Successful applicants will be allocated funding from the £500,000
total. Assistance may be made available to promising projects to
develop the feasibility study. For more information on the grant
scheme criteria and how to apply please go to: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy/multiobjectiveproject.htm
2. Successful applicants will be contacted by 30 September 2008
to confirm whether Defra will support the development of a more
detailed business case with a view to making an announcement on
the prefer project(s) early in 2009.
3. Projects must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
* There is a specific and well documented flood management issue
that could be alleviated by changes in land management
* The scheme will produce other benefits, such as (but not
limited to) biodiversity, carbon sequestration or water quality
* The lead organisation is able to secure the land management
changes necessary to delivery the flood management benefits
* Funding from Defra's flood management programme will be
supplemented by contributions from other sources, recognising
multiple benefits anticipated
* The benefits of the project will be measured and reported in
accordance with an agreement between Defra and the lead organisation
4. Eligible organisations or partnerships:
* Any organisation or partnership which considers that it has the
capacity to deliver the proposed project may apply.
* Partnerships may include public bodies and groups of individuals.
* Partnerships should identify a lead organisation which would be
responsible for delivering the project.
5. Further examples of land management practices include planting
woodlands strategically on a flood plain to slow down floodwater,
changing the way the land is farmed; or restoring wetland habitats.
6. These projects will work in tandem with existing
agri-environment schemes within the Environmental Stewardship
programme. Schemes within the programme are completely voluntary
'green farming' schemes which work by providing
Government-funded financial support to farmers to manage and
conserve their land with a focus on environmentally friendly,
sustainable methods - such as creating habitats for wildlife and
restoring landscape features. The scheme is managed by Natural
England, a Defra agency. For more information please go to: http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default.htm
7. This project will draw experience from and share lessons with
the Defra-funded England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery
Initiative, which is delivered through the Environment Agency and
Natural England partnership http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/water/csf
8. Defra is working on the production of a full response to Pitt
that includes an action plan, in the Autumn. For more information
please follow the link to Hilary Benn's oral statement in
response to Sir Michael Pitt's final report on the Summer
floods: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/statements/default.asp
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