Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Written Evidence


Memorandum submitted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites UK (Appendix 9)

1.  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  1.1  ICOMOS-UK welcomes the thrust of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill in creating an integrated Agency for rural affairs to sustain and enhance landscapes and manage land in a dynamic way, while at the same time working toward providing a sustainable future for rural communities.

  1.2  We do not however consider that the Bill, or the remit of the new Agency, goes far enough in stressing the need to see the rural environment as a living, dynamic place that has the potential, with the support of integrated advice and support systems, to deliver real economic and social benefits and provide a sense of well-being.

  1.3  The rural environment and rural communities have a symbiotic relationship: one supports the other. The new Agency needs not only to protect bio-diversity and historic features—it must also be the lead body in putting in place support systems that help deliver a thriving countryside with sustainable rural communities. We do not consider that the remit of the new Agency as it stands stresses sufficiently the need to consider the rural environment as a dynamic network of people and processes that sustains cultural diversity as well as delivering products that people want—both tangible and intangible products.

  1.4  We would like to make one major recommendation on this Bill: that it should encompass a broader concept than that of the natural environment. We consider that to achieve Lord Haskin's vision of an integrated land management system, the new Agency should have in its title and as its remit the whole rural environment to signal that land, and particularly rural land, is seen as a dynamic entity.

  1.5  We put forward definitions for landscape and landscape management that support the idea of the rural environment as a dynamic entity that reflects the interaction between people and nature and has the capacity to deliver wide social and economic benefits. We also suggest that the new Agency be called the Rural Affairs Agency.

  1.6  ICOMOS-UK's function and remit is set out in Annex 1.

2.  RURAL ENVIRONMENT RATHER THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

  2.1  The rural environment is far wider than the natural environment. We consider that the scope of the Bill should be the wider rural environment rather than the narrow natural environment.

  2.2.  We do not consider that true sustainable development will be achieved through the management solely of the "natural environment" (Explanatory Notes 39). Rather what is needed is a sustainable development approach to the rural environment as a whole—which reflects the interaction of man with nature and links rural communities to their rural environment.

  2.3  The title of the Bill and the key Clauses stress the "natural environment" as a resource for those living outside rural areas. We consider that the Bill should stress the value of rural communities together with their surrounding landscape as an integrated resource that can benefit, in both economic and social terms, both those that live in the countryside and those that visit.

  2.4  We would also like to see acknowledged that no land or landscapes (apart from a few cliffs) are wholly "natural": all land in England reflects the impact of people. Landscapes include farmland, nature reserves, national parks and the pattern of rural communities. (as acknowledged in Explanatory Notes 36)

  2.5  We would like to see the full benefits and opportunities of the rural environment set out in the Bill:

    —  The rural environment reflect the many diverse ways that people have interacted with nature.

    —  People should be involved in the way the rural environment develops and should benefit from development in economic and social ways.

    —  Landscape is a hugely valuable resource that can deliver wide benefits.

    —  Landscape can add to the quality of life and people's sense of well-being.

  2.6  It is not just the natural environment that produces these benefits and opportunities: rather it is the wider and much more complex cultural landscape that makes up the rural environment that can deliver these benefits, if managed with the support of people living, working and visiting the landscape. We would like to see this acknowledged in the remit of the new Agency.

3.  DEFINITIONS

  3.1  The Bill currently uses the following words somewhat interchangeably and this does not lead to clarity:

    —  Environment

    —  Countryside

    —  Landscape

    —  Nature

    —  Natural environment

  3.2  This is especially true in:

    (a)  Policy Document paragraph 1: which mentions "conserving, nurturing and enhancing our landscape and the richness of biodiversity" while paragraph 2 mentioned the "natural treasure of the countryside".

    (b)  The main Bill paragraph 2 (2), sets out the general purpose of the proposed new Agency, and mentions landscape, nature, countryside, and the natural environment.

  3.3  All of these terms used are facets of landscape. Landscape encompasses the environment, nature, countryside as well as the built structures of rural communities. Landscape also reflects social structures and how communities have evolved. We consider that an overall definition of landscape should be adopted—see below.

  3.4  Landscape reflects the impact of man on the natural environment over time: what we have in England is a diverse collection of landscapes that each reflects a particular interaction between man and nature. There is a need to respect both sides of the equation, and sustain people as well as nature. We consider that the Bill needs to sustain landscape that encompasses both the natural and the man-made dimensions.

  3.5  The Explanatory Notes set out that "landscape" includes "all aspects of the English landscape such as its natural beauty and distinctiveness" and stresses that the purpose includes physical diversity, historic and cultural environment and monuments and buildings which contribute to the landscape. It concludes that the Agency will have "powers to conserve and enhance the English landscape for aesthetic and historic preservation purposes as well as those carried out for habitat protection purposes".

  3.6  We support this but feel it is too narrow. We consider that landscape should be seen in more active terms: landscape is not just a picture, where walls, hedges or habitats are conserved—it is the place where farmers and others earn a living. Rural land, the rural environment or landscape (whatever title is considered appropriate) must be seen as the recipient of an integrated management strategy and management system that aim to optimise the potential of our rural environment to deliver real jobs, foster well-being and sustain what is distinctive and valued as part of on-going processes.

  3.7  Management of the rural environment should be a holistic as well as an integrated process. Nature conservation, historic landscape and access benefits should be bi-products of a wider management approach that is in turn part of sustainable development.

  3.8  This wider scope is not brought in the Bill, or in the remit of the new Agency, or in the Policy document associated with the Bill. We consider that a wider definition of the rural environment and broader aims should underpin the Bill.

  3.9  To achieve this wider vision for the rural environment, we consider that the following definitions of landscapes and landscape (or land) management should be used to underpin this Bill:

    (i)  Landscape:

        Landscape means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.

    (ii)  Landscape Management (or Land management):

        Managing change in landscape (or land) means guiding social, cultural, economic and environmental processes to deliver wide benefits within the framework of sustainable development.

4.  PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXT OF THE BILL, POLICY DOCUMENT AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

  4.1  Proposed Amendments to the text of the Bill

  We consider that the following clauses should be amended to reflect the need to encompass the rural environment: (alterations in bold)

  2(1)  The Agency's general purpose is to ensure that the rural environment is sustained, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development

  2(2)  The Agency's general purpose includes:

    (a)  promoting landscape and land-management policies, which deliver social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits

    (b)  promoting the sustainable development of the rural environment

    (c)  supporting the production of added-value produce

    (d)  promoting landscape conservation and protecting biodiversity

    (e)  sustaining and enhancing the diversity of landscapes and landscape products and processes

    (f)  securing the provision and improvement of facilities for the study, understanding and enjoyment of landscape

    (g)  promoting access to landscape and encouraging open-air recreation

    (h)  contributing to other ways to social and economic well-being through management of the rural environment

    (i)  supporting education and training associated with land management

  4.2  Proposed Amendments to Policy document

  We would like the context and introduction to be amended to reflect the need to encompass landscape more widely: (alterations in bold)

  2.  . . . Second, to protect and enhance the national treasure of our landscapes wherever they exist, through a more coherent approach to managing and conserving land across England for the benefit of current and future generations.

  3.b  for the rural environment, we will establish a more powerful champion, by bringing together the world-class strengths of English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service to create an integrated Agency. Working with partners, the new body—independent of government—will be responsible for protecting, managing and enhancing landscape in all its guises, especially biodiversity and cultural qualities, while seeking to deliver social and economic benefits through championing the sustainable development of the rural environment

  7.  . . . They will be expected to take a fresh approach to land management issues including, biodiversity, cultural and social issues, and work in partnership with other to develop solutions that provide environmental, social and economic benefits . . .

  9.  . . . The Regional Rural Delivery Frameworks, under Government Office leadership, will bring together the main regional and local partners responsible for delivering social, economic, cultural and environmental outcomes arising from land management.

  4.3  Proposed Amendments to Explanatory Notes

  We would like these amended to reflect an integrated landscape approach: (alterations in bold)

  33.  Subsection (1) sets out the Agency's general purpose is to ensure that the rural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development. The term landscape is broad and encompassing. Landscape is found in towns as well as the countryside and includes rivers, lakes, and the sea, as well as flora, fauna, farmland and settlements. Benefits include environmental, social and economic benefits for present and future generations. Subsection (1) sets the Agency's activities within a sustainable development context. This means that the Agency should seek solutions which, while achieving landscape and environmental benefits, also provide long-term social and economic benefits, and avoid any unnecessary economic and social and landscape impacts.

  37.  Subsection (2) (c) provides that the Agency's general purposes include securing the provision and improvement of facilities for the study , understanding and enjoyment of landscape. Amongst other things this is intended to promote respect for both natural and cultural aspects of this landscape.

  39.  Subsection (2) (e) . . . This makes clear that the Agency will contribute to social and economic well being through land management.

5.  TITLE OF PROPOSE INTEGRATED AGENCY

  5.1  In order to reflect the need for the new integrated Agency to encompass the wider rural environment, not just nature conservation, and the natural and the historic landscape, and people, we consider that the title of the new Agency should be the Rural Affairs Agency.

Annex 1

ICOMOS-UK'S FUNCTION AND REMIT

ICOMOS-UK

  ICOMOS is a non-governmental organisation whose mandate is the world's cultural heritage. Through more than 110 national committees worldwide, it provides a forum for professional dialogue. The UK Committee of ICOMOS was formed in 1965.

  Landscapes, reflecting the way people interact with their environment, are a key part of ICOMOS's role.

  ICOMOS has special responsibility as adviser to UNESCO on cultural World Heritage Sites, under the terms of the World Heritage Convention. ICOMOS is represented at the Council of Europe meetings on the European Landscape Convention.

International Council on Monuments & Sites UK

February 2005





 
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