Managing, Protecting and Developing the Rural Environment Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group's - Conservation Advice Through Partnership

The present era of secure food supplies and the need to control production encourages criticism of farming methods and technology, land-use and the role of farming in relation to forestry, wilderness areas and public access. Over a period of many years farmers have received advice and training in agricultural technology but this has rarely included environmental issues. If changes in land-use and agricultural production techniques are to be brought about and farmers encouraged to devote greater care to wildlife and landscape conservation, then they will need to understand why this is necessary and to receive advice on how to do it. Such advice must be related to their agricultural background and the management of individual farms taking into account the resources available.