Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Essex (and Suffolk) Good for people, wildlife and the economy 24 Jan 2017 Dedham Vale AONB Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB
A few thoughts…. • AONBs designated and funded to Conserve and Enhance Natural Beauty • High quality landscapes support a prosperous economy and healthy society • Tourism economy in SCH and DV AONBs worth over £250M a year • Britain spending £47Bn a year dealing with costs of obesity • ‘Shifting Baseline Syndrome’ describes a changing normality
Just a brief bit of history …. 1945 Report on National Parks 1947 National Parks Committee 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1965 grants 1968 Countryside Commission 1973 review 1974 Countryside Commission recommends Joint Advisory Committees 1976 Project Officer 1980s reports 2000 CRoW Act 2010 NPPF 2016 State of Nature Report Dedham Vale and Suffolk Coast & Heaths history
The State of Nature Report 2016: A few key facts: • 60% of recorded species have declined in recent decades • 15% of 8,000 (1,200) Red list data species extinct or in danger • English wildlife faring worse than in France, Greece and Germany • 75% of land in UK managed for food production But…. • 7,500,000 Volunteer hours per year • 9,760 species monitored by volunteers • We can reverse decline: Have technical knowledge and capability (Otters) Wider public benefits • Physical and mental health • Build economy (Minister quote: AONBs are hidden economic powerhouses ) Will we recognise and support our Outstanding Landscapes ?
2017 situation Two AONBs One team Public funding? External project funding EU funding???? Sponsorship ‘Cut our cloth’
AONB Functions Landscape Economic Wildlife Assets What is an AONB? Places for Legislation people Community
Finest Landscapes
What are AONBs doing about wildlife?
Legislation 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 2000 Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2010 National Planning Policy Framework Section 85 Public Bodies and Statutory Undertakers responsibilities Turn into public benefit…… Section 106 agreements (delivery) Ofgem allowances (National grid and Distribution networks) Private grants and sponsorship
Community • AONB Partnerships • Volunteers • Forums • Visits
People • Volunteers • Consultations • Point of contact
Economic Value of Tourism in AONBs Dedham Vale £55M pa Stour Valley £41M pa Suffolk Coast £197M pa Tourism Jobs in AONBs Dedham Vale 1,201 Stour Valley 1,101 Suffolk Coast 4,375 AONBs designation can bring • Brand Team can add strategy/products • Guides • Information (B2B and Public)
Economic (Continued)
What does the AONB team do: Volunteer teams Wildlife Projects Landscape Projects Recreation Projects Undergrounding Promotion Planning comments Sustainability Grants Tourism Access
The Framework…….. • AONB Management Plan • Partnership document • Residents • Local Government • Farming Interests • Statutory Undertakers • Environmental Interests • Commercial Sector • DEFRA • Statutory Function • 5 year review • 2016-2021
The Future……. Opportunities and challenges • AONB boundary reviews • AONB funding • Development pressures-land/air • Biodiversity • Agri Environment Support • Infrastructure: Roads/Rail/Communications/Utilities
The Future……. A personal view • What we see as important will be seen as important by more and more people • Protection of resources will become increasingly important • Role of public sector • High quality leisure time…Driver to economic and healthy well being
Challenges but opportunities Thank you for listening ……….Any questions Simon Amstutz AONB Manager 07971 909649 simon.amstutz@suffolk.gov.uk
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