Scheme to enhance our countryside

17 May 2012

The Countryside Enhancement Scheme (CES) will be launched at the Frances Le Sueur Centre, St Ouen, on 22 May, to coincide with the International Day of Biodiversity.

The States funded support scheme, which expands on the work carried out under the Countryside Renewal Scheme, will provide financial support for environmental initiatives. The scheme is open to any individual, partnership, organisation, school, business or States department. Applicants will need to demonstrate that their project:

• enhances, conserves and protects Jersey’s natural environment on a local scale
• implements Island wide strategic projects that will enhance biodiversity and / or the access infrastructure
• helps deliver the Island’s commitments to international Multilateral Environment Agreements and local environmental objectives

The Minister for Planning and Environment, Deputy Rob Duhamel, said “This new scheme has been designed to build on the success of the Countryside Renewal Scheme, which ran from 2005 – 2011.

“It will further enhance the Island’s environment and is open to anyone who wants to set up a relevant project, as well as to farm businesses to help them comply with the environmental requirements of farm Assurance Schemes. 

“I encourage potential applicants to take advantage of the new scheme to enhance our wildlife, landscapes, historic features and natural resources as well as to provide new opportunities for public access.”

Review of earlier scheme

The earlier Countryside Renewal Scheme was first launched in 2005. A review conducted in 2011 looked at all aspects of design, content, delivery and monitoring with reference to the Rural Economy Strategy 2011-2015.

The main recommendations were:

• the scheme should be open to anyone who can deliver projects that will benefit the environment and biodiversity of Jersey
• the scheme should meet States strategic environmental policy objectives, including local and international agreements
• the name of the scheme should be changed to remove any negative association with the word ‘Renewal’
• applications for individual agricultural businesses should be based on each farm having an Environment Plan in place

The new scheme should have 3 options:

1. for small environmental projects, open to anyone
2. to deliver strategic environmental objectives
3. to support environmental improvements identified in the environment plans with initial help to develop the plans and support the identified improvements

 These recommendations have informed the structure of the new Countryside Enhancement Scheme.