農地における生物多様性への取り組みの実施状況と課題--イングランドにおける環境スチュワードシップ制度の事例

Agri-environmental schemes in England have been transformed in recent years. The primary objectives of agri-environment schemes have developed from initially aiming to hold back intensification of agricultural lands towards stimulating environmental enhancement of rural area including the agricultural lands. With the introduction of Environmental Stewardship (ES), the previous schemes such as Environmentally Sensitive Area and Countryside Stewardship schemes are integrated into the ES. Although the framework of the scheme has been studied, the mechanism and the actual implementation process for promoting and enhancing the environment had not been well documented. Further, the paper examined how the scheme has contributed to enhancement of biodiversity on the agricultural land. This is the first study that illustrates the mechanism and the actual implementation of the ES for biodiversity enhancement. This paper summarizes lessons learnt from the ES in England and provides suggestions that promotes biodiversity enhancement on the agricultural land.