The changing economic values of the ‘rough ground’ in West Cornwall

Abstract

The heathlands of West Cornwall have been extensively used for a variety of human activities over several millennia, but these uses have substantially diminished and changed in recent times. The area includes the West Penwith ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area), which is a beautiful landscape in the far west of Cornwall of high landscape, historic and biodiversity value. This case study provides a valuation of its ecosystem services, and evaluates the incentive schemes (agri-environment schemes) that were set up by government to protect this valuable landscape. It provides recommendations for how the area should be managed in the future for maximum benefit, and the need for future rural development and reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Water Management Supporting the Delivery of Ecosystem Services for Grassland, Heath and Moorland

“…Now viewed as economically marginal land, the UK uplands have a long history of use for livestock grazing [55,56]. Despite fortunes made by some historic landowners [57], however, present-day farming survives only as a result of possible CAP payments [58][59][60].…”