Long-Term Implications 2

The Scenario: The effect of Foot and Mouth on upland farming throughout the U.K would be to reduce the number of farms in these areas - what effect would this have on the wild land in upland areas?

• CAP - livestock premia, Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance - encouraged intensification of farming.

• Overgrazing & wildlife problems

• Management of upland vegetation by grazing management is important as it aims to protect and enhance the diversity of various species.

• Flow chart illustrates the importance of grazing to plant and animal biodiversity (wilderness). [Grazer = vegetation removal = plant & animal biodiversity].
• The extent/management of grazing will determine the loss/gain of biodiversity.

• The long-term effects of foot and mouth depends on the future of farming - grazing management is recognized as a technique at the heart of conservation of wilderness within farming.

• Intensive farming in upland areas does not help to preserve wilderness.

• After the Foot & Mouth crisis, many farmers abandon farms (financial pressure) thus there are less farmers per unit area - more 'extensive' farming practices.

                                 INTENSIVE FARMING..........................................................................EXTENSIVE FARMING

• Extensive farming in the upland areas of the U.K refers to the more spatious grazing of livestock over a larger area.

• Extensive farming is a method of reducing and controlling grazing as part of grazing management and will in turn assist the development and conservation of the wilderness.

• Crofting is a technique (extensive) used that involves a small enclosed area with an extensive area of pasture for grazing.

                  "there is a need to encourage extensive rather than intensive
              agriculture....." (to protect wilderness)
                                                                                                                                        (Good, C. 2000)

• When the economics of farming are marginal (upland farming) there is a chance to work towards a change in favour of conservation and re-wilding.

• Extensive (low-intensity) farming may be one answer.

• After the Foot & Mouth epidemic, the possibility of using more extensive farming techniques if probable.

• The effect that this has on the wild lands (wilderness) of the upland areas in the U.K seems favourable with extensive farming encompassing grazing management which in turn can help the conservation and regeneration of wilderness.