Agri-Environment Schemes
"Custodians" made a case for continuing improvement of
our agri-environment schemes.
A consultation paper was issued in March 2003 setting
out proposals for:
- Encouraging collaborative applications to join the
Rural Stewardship Scheme as a means of increasing the
critical mass of participants;
- Providing for succession arrangements for people
leaving Environmentally Sensitive Area agreements;
and
- Developing the Organic Aid Scheme in line with the
options identified in the Executives Organic Action
Plan published in February 2003.
The consultation
period closed at the end of May 2003 and almost 100
responses were received.
- Analysis of the responses was undertaken and
intended improvements to the agri-environment
schemes are being initiated subject to approval by both
the European Commission and the Scottish
Parliament.