Government response to Independent Review on Dartmoor published - Defra

The government has published its response to the Independent Review of Protected Site Management on Dartmoor.

The government has today (Wednesday 10 April) published its response to the Independent Review of Protected Site Management on Dartmoor.

The government’s response sets out a number of priorities to ensure farmers on Dartmoor are supported to produce food sustainably and run viable businesses while protecting important habitats and species across Dartmoor.

These include boosting farmers’ confidence in Environmental Land Management schemes, including those transitioning from Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements; encouraging collaborative relationships between Natural England and commoners; and backing a robust strategy and long-term governance for Dartmoor.

It follows the Environment Secretary Steve Barclay meeting with commoners and wider stakeholders to discuss the long-term vision for the management of Dartmoor last month.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: "I’ve heard firsthand the challenges faced by all those who live and work on Dartmoor, and our response sets out how we will ensure that farmers remain central to ensuring that we have healthy and varied habitats on Dartmoor which work in harmony with food production. I’d like to thank David Fursdon and the panel for their work on this important review, and I hope that we can continue to work together to protect and enhance this breathtaking landscape."

Read the Independent Review of Protected Site Management on Dartmoor here.