Natural England has brought out a wide range of science and technical reports to help support its environmental delivery work. They show that its advice, to Government and others, is based on the best available evidence.

The natural environment provides many benefits for people. The following reports have recently been published in support of Natural England’s work in understanding and sustaining the natural environment both now and into the future:

Agri-environment schemes in England 2009

A review of results and effectiveness The most comprehensive analysis of agri-environment schemes yet undertaken, the report draws on research from the entire 22-year history of the schemes and analyses the impact they have made on England’s farmed environment. A summary of the report is also available: Farming with Nature: Agri-environment schemes in action.

NECR028 Upland Ecosystems Service

Assessing the links between environment, land management and service delivery for four key services. England’s uplands contain many of the nation’s most beloved landscapes and are nationally and internationally important for biodiversity. The uplands provide many benefits essential to our collective well-being: food, fuel, water purification, carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, adaptation to climate change and space for healthy recreation and relaxation. Together these benefits are known as ‘ecosystem services’. Our environment and its ecosystems are vulnerable; changing economic and social circumstances and the potential impact of climate change are notable causes of concern. The report looks specifically at four ecosystem services delivered by the uplands:

• carbon storage and sequestration for climate regulation
• water quality
• flood mitigation
• recreation 

The study takes a critical look at the evidence we already have, identifies the main causes of change and what kind of mitigation and management might be necessary to sustain the multiple-benefits the uplands provide to society in the long-term.

NECR029 Economic valuation of uplands ecosystem services

This report presents a methodology for identifying how land use and management changes in the uplands can influence the economic value of the ecosystem goods and services provided. Six case studies from the English uplands are used to test this method and explore the impact of land use change on people living in or around the uplands.

NECR030 Global drivers of change to 2060

Our world is constantly changing and although we cannot predict what the future holds, it’s important to have a view of what uncertainty looks like. This report provides a combination of fourteen global causes of change that represent the most significant trends, factors and pressures that could affect the natural environment to 2060. 

NECR031 Scenarios compendium

The compendium documents almost three dozen scenarios from organisations around the world, analyses their relationship to Natural England’s scenarios and clarifies how Natural England’s scenarios add value to foresight for environmental policy. In providing a foundation for Natural England’s work, this report assists as in developing our wider futures thinking, including identification of new research needs. 

NERR031 England’s Natural Environment in 2060

Issues, implications and scenarios 2060 might seem a long way away, but the decisions we make today will have an impact on how the natural environment will look like in the future. To make the right decisions over the next few years we need to have a clear vision of what we want for the natural environment in the next few decades. Natural England has developed four scenarios of how the world might look in 2060 and carried out an initial assessment of the long term risks and opportunities that could influence the natural environment by 2060.

TIN060 The use of yellow rattle to facilitate grassland diversification in agri-environment schemes

This technical information note will help farmers working with Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme grassland options. In the last sixty years, England has lost most of its species-rich semi-natural grassland, which is important for the wide diversity of flowers and insects it supports. Increasing the numbers and species of native wild flowers on agricultural land can go some way to restoring this valuable habitat. This technical note gives advice on how yellow rattle wild flowers can help other wild flower species establish in semi-improved grasslands, particularly in grasslands being managed under Environmental Stewardship. Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme that offers grants to farmers and land managers in England for environmentally-friendly farming.