Copenhagen: land managers are a vital part of the solution, says CLA

The CLA is today (Friday, 11 December) presenting a key paper in conjunction with the European Landowners' Organisation (ELO) at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

The paper, entitled The Climate Change Challenge and the Land Manager: a European Perspective, looks at how land managers are an integral part of the solution to the effects of climate change in Europe.

Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North, said: "We know that land managers can help mitigate the damaging effects of climate change and this paper informs a serious and much-needed debate

"Land use is integral in so many approaches to adaptation and mitigation. Our region is significant in food production, water resources, soil conservation, coastlines and biodiversity. Our forests and woodlands hold carbon and provide energy and building materials."

The report concludes that the most pressing needs for the future of the European agricultural industry are information and advice to help reduce emissions, investment in anaerobic digestion and land based renewable energy, and access to official trading to take full advantage of carbon capture and storage in trees and soil.

Mr Chalmers added: "Of course, the efforts of our land managers must work in conjunction with other countries' land use, especially deforestation in developing countries, but we must not forget that while most sectors and individuals can only reduce their negative effects on climate change, land managers can actually increase their positive effects - and they should be encouraged to do so."

Douglas Chalmers – Director CLA North

Douglas Chalmers Douglas is Director CLA North. He is from an Aberdeenshire farming family, graduated from the University of Aberdeen and trained as an animal nutritionist. Douglas held technical and management positions in the agricultural supply industry for 20 years. He joined the CLA in 2001 as North West Regional Director, becoming Director CLA North in 2003. He is Chairman of Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE Local Action Group, Vice Chairman of the North West Rural Affairs Forum, a Governor of Myerscough College and a member of Cumbria Local Access Forum. He and his wife own a small farm near Appleby-in-Westmorland keeping Herdwick sheep and free-range poultry, and where he has helped his wife to form Learning Fields, a Community Interest Company offering educational and environmental activities there. He is also a member of Eden Time Bank.

Phone: 01539 567597
FAX: 01539 567956
Email douglas.chalmers@cla.org.uk