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Balnakeil farm in Durness, Sutherland, where low-intensity farming practices have fostered an impressive amount of biodiversity

Farming plays a vital role in our countryside, producing food alongside a wide range of other goods and services. 75% of our land is farmed, and so of course farming methods have a significant impact on the natural environment and our wildlife. That wildlife includes birds such as lapwing, curlew, skylark and corncrake, as well as many mammals, plants and insects. As this year’s State of Nature report reminded us, large areas of Scottish farmland remain of incredibly high value for nature but some farming methods and practices have also been damaging to wildlife and the environment.

Across Scotland, as across the rest of the UK and the whole of the EU, farming is governed by the Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP. Whilst some aspects of the CAP have encouraged environmentally damaging farming, something we’ve been calling for reform on for many years, it also provides funding for wildlife-friendly farming schemes. Since 1973, this funding has represented a significant investment in Scotland’s rural areas.

The nature of farming

Today, as well as supporting wildlife-friendly farming practices, CAP schemes also provide funding for forestry and woodland management, pay for advice to farmers, encourage cooperation between land managers to achieve environmental objectives and pay for other beneficial rural development.

Without such investment, the fate of some of Scotland’s most valued wildlife is precarious. For example, wildlife-friendly farming funding enables:

  • Farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to help birds such as the corncrake by providing nesting habitat and managing their fields appropriately.
  • Degraded peatlands to be restored so they store carbon and help us tackle climate change as well as benefiting the wildlife associated with them.
  • Arable farmers to leave stubble fields over winter, manage hedgerows and provide field margins to benefit birds such as the corn bunting, skylark and yellowhammer as well as hares, pollinating insects and a range of butterflies.
  • Livestock farmers to manage their grasslands to help declining wading birds such as the lapwing, curlew and oystercatcher.
  • The improved management of native woodlands to benefit wildlife.

An even better system?

Leaving the EU, following the recent referendum, will mean the UK – and therefore Scotland – no longer benefits from CAP funding of any kind. This is of course a huge change, but also an incredible opportunity to create a truly sustainable farming and land management system. And it opens up a conversation about our food and environment that we can, and should, all be part of.

Our vision for farming a system that’s good for people and good for nature. For sustainable systems across the UK that:

  • produce adequate supplies of safe, healthy food;
  • protect the natural resources of soil, air and water on which farming depends;
  • help to protect and enhance wildlife and habitats, including high nature value farmland and
  • provide jobs in rural areas and contribute to a diverse rural economy.

Keeping nature in politicians' minds

Funding for wildlife friendly farming must continue. Whilst we prepare to leave the EU, the UK Treasury has signalled it will ensure EU-funded wildlife-friendly farming schemes started before we leave will get funded to their end, even if that’s after we’ve left Europe. This should be good news for our wildlife, and all those farmers taking action to look after it.

But we need the Scottish Government to make a clear commitment that this is the case here in Scotland and send a signal that it understands the importance of supporting wildlife friendly farming. Please write to your MSPs and ask them to raise the future of wildlife-friendly farming with the Government. You can find out who they are here and contact them through https://www.writetothem.com/.

These points may help you frame your message:

  • Farming has a significant impact on the Scottish countryside, and can be both very good for wildlife (for example in high nature value farming and crofting systems) or damaging to wildlife (for example intensive farming systems, where space for nature is often squeezed out).
  • We need the Scottish Government to send a signal that it understands the importance of supporting wildlife-friendly farming and to make a clear commitment that agri-environment schemes will remain fully funded and open for applications from farmers, foresters and other land managers between now and our departure from the EU. Many farmers have already made a big difference to wildlife on their land; we mustn't allow their hard work to be undone due to lack of support.
  • After leaving the EU, increased support for farmers undertaking wildlife-friendly farming schemes and encouraging more farmers to take action for wildlife must be a priority for our future farming policy and payments to farmers. Greater investment in education, training and advice for farmers can help more people adopt greener farming methods.

You can help us monitor the progress of our campaign by letting us know that you’ve contacted your MSPs, and sharing any replies with Rea Cris, our Parliamentary Officer, at campaigns.scotland@rspb.org.uk. And thank you for taking action to back wildlife-friendly farming - as we discuss the future of farming it's vital that nature has as many voices as possible in the conversation too.