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Benn announces demonstration scheme for landowners to reduce flooding |
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Monday, 07 July 2008 |
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Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced £500,000 to fund up to two pilot projects that will explore how land management can reduce the risk of flooding.
Land management practices can play a vital role in managing flood risk at a local level. For example, the creation and restoration of wetlands and woodlands can reduce the level of flooding, and in some cases remove the risk of local flooding altogether.
Announcing the funding, Hilary Benn said: "Last summer we saw the huge devastation that flooding can cause and even small events can cause huge disruption to people's lives and livelihoods. Sir Michael Pitt's recent report on the floods highlighted how traditional flood defences are not always appropriate or cost effective, so we must generate a range of sustainable approaches to protect people and property.
"That's why I am inviting landowning organisations to propose practical projects under this demonstration scheme. They are best placed to help us understand how it can be used to reduce flood risk.
"We can never fully eliminate the risk of flooding, but we are working to ensure that we are better prepared to deal with future events. This initiative will not only improve our knowledge about how we can best deal with flooding, it will also help look at how we can improve our biodiversity at a local level at the same time."
Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England said:
"Any long-term approach to flood risk management must include the vital role played by the natural environment. This new project will aim to demonstrate that we can help to dramatically decrease the risk of flooding in England through improved land management practices. By increasing the natural capacity of our environment to absorb and hold excess water, we can help to reduce the effects of excess rainfall. In addition to reducing flood risk this will have huge benefits for biodiversity and carbon storage."
Landowners with the capacity to deliver a suitable land management project that fits the criteria are being invited to come forward with project proposals by 29 August 2008. Any organisation or partnership which considers that it has the capacity to deliver the proposed project may apply. More information is available from http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy/multiobjectiveproject.htm
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