The Wider Picture

As pressure on the land increases and ecosystems are evermore degraded it is clear that that the sectoral approach to land management is not sustainable. It is necessary to integrate land practices in forestry, livestock and crop management to produce maximum yield with minimum cost to the environment.

The declining availability of oil and natural gas will necessitate the diversification of our landscapes for the benefit of biodiversity and future generations. Land-use practices could play a major role in reducing the concentrations of green house gases in the atmosphere. Using natural processes to draw down and sequester carbon dioxide will require a major rethink of our relationship with woodland, presence of ruminants on the landscape, and the way in which we manage our soils. It is essential that all stakeholders work together, from politician to farmer, to agree on accessible and appropriate alternatives that do not alienate and marginalise people.

The Sustainable Land Use Initiative at CAT, along with our Zero Carbon Britain report provides a catalyst for change and a formula for the adoption of appropriate practices by land owners and policy makers alike. We hope to inspire, inform and enable change in this sector, making resources available from a variety of institutions and from our own expertise.