Land needs to be better managed to meet the competing demands for food production, wildlife conservation and access to open spaces, says a new report published by the National Trust.
Climate change, intensive agriculture and plans for newly built developments are increasing the pressures on this finite resource, and more land will need to have multiple functions in the future.
The report, 'Green Spaces – Measuring the Benefits', calls on bodies such as Natural England, to take a lead role in promoting a more integrated approach to land management. The findings are based on research carried out by the University of Essex at six National Trust sites in the East of England.
This region is under particular pressure from plans to build over half a million new homes and to expand ports, airports and other infrastructure, as well as coastal change, flooding and water supply issues, which will be exacerbated by climate change. The region is also vital for food production and tourism and valued for its landscape and wildlife.
  
Land has traditionally been divided between different uses, whether farmland for food production or nature reserves for wildlife. This new research provides eight indicators to measure the different health and environmental benefits which can be provided by green space, including farming, wildlife habitat, flood protection and leisure. It also shows the potential for land to deliver many of these at the same time, if managed effectively.
The research makes a number of recommendations to ensure that land is managed more effectively for the benefit of the public. These include:
- Agencies with responsibility for maintaining the natural environment, such as Natural England, taking a lead role in promoting a more integrated approach to land management.
- Health professionals, such as GPs, working more closely with environmental and countryside professionals to link health and the environment and encourage people to be more active in the natural environment.
- Planners and developers addressing the vital role that local green spaces play for people and ensuring that all communities, especially new ones, have quality, accessible local green space.
Tony Burton, Director of Strategy and External Affairs at the National Trust, said:
'Green spaces are vital to improving people’s health and quality of life, and for managing natural resources such as carbon and water. Every piece of land can provide a range of benefits. Through better management we can get more from our land in the face of development, climate change and other pressures.'
Professor Jules Pretty, OBE, Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex, said:
'Our research at the University of Essex has shown just how important it is to think of the multiple uses of land. In these times where there are growing pressures on food production, it is even more important to maintain a productive landscape as well as one that also produces vitally important environmental and health services. The land can be good for wildlife, agriculture and people, all at the same time. But it does require novel thinking, clear policies and clever management.'
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