Biodiversity of Grasslands
The new Agriculture Act will see UK farmers paid for ‘public goods’, primarily biodiversity and other environmental benefits. But do we have the science base to underpin such a policy, and can farmers apply it to deliver results at sufficient scale whilst maintaining food production and a viable business?
BGS, BSAS and Stapledon Memorial Trust have orgainsed two webinars focused on the UK to inform and activate discussion.
Webinar 1 – Tuesday 26 January 2021, 17.00-18.30 (UK time)
The science: what is the state of grassland biodiversity and how might it be increased?
Topics and speakers:
Grassland biodiversity in the UK: status, trends and prospects – Dr Lisa Norton (Land Use Group, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster)
Plants, invertebrates and birds in upland grassland: effects of grazing management – Prof Robin Pakeman (James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen)
Management of lowland grassland for invertebrates and birds – Dr Will Peach (Head of Conservation Science for England & Wales, Royal Society for Protection of Birds).
Webinar 2: Tuesday 2 February 2021, 17.00 – 18.30 (UK time)
Implementation: How policy and practice could reverse biodiversity decline.
Topics and speakers:
Development of policies to conserve and increase biodiversity in grassland – Clare Pinches (Principal Science Analyst, Natural England).
A profitable farm rich in wildlife – Ian Boyd (Cotswold Beef & ianboydphotography.co.uk, Whittington Lodge Farm, Cheltenham).
Maximum sustainable output: making nature a stakeholder in a profitable business – Chris Clark (Nethergill Associates).
Further details and booking information for these free webinars are available on the BSAS website (click here)
