Poul Christensen

Poul Christensen

The acting chair of the Government’s advisory body on the natural environment has been confirmed as its head.

Poul Christensen takes over the post as chair of Natural England following the death earlier this year of Sir Martin Doughty. The appointment of Mr Christensen, a farmer and former chairman of Milk Marque, was welcomed by the landowners’ organisation the Country Land & Business Association.

Natural England has a wide brief, from managing green farming schemes to increasing the public’s enjoyment of the natural world. Importantly, it also designates national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty and manages most national nature reserves and licenses protected species in England.

Crucially, it is in charge of the setting up of national trails, including the new English coastal path.

It was formed in 2006 by the agglomeration of the Countryside Agency, English Nature and the Rural Development Service of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Mr Christensen said of his appointment: “I am delighted to be confirmed as chair of Natural England, an organisation that has such an important part to play in delivering a secure future for our natural environment.

“I am fully aware that there are enormous challenges ahead in enabling England’s natural environment to withstand the impacts it is increasingly being subjected to. We have lost a significant amount of our wildlife in recent years and the pressures of development and climate change threaten to take a very heavy toll unless we change our views about what the countryside is for.

“We have to move away from the mindset that regards securing the health of the natural environment as a drag on prosperity and growth. A well-managed natural environment is vital for a huge range of critical natural services that we take for granted but which are fundamental to our economic performance and wellbeing. Services like food, carbon storage, productive soils, flood alleviation, clean air, clean water, amazing landscapes and fantastic wildlife are not givens, and they can only be secured if we manage the environment with nature’s support services in mind.

“England’s countryside, its coastline and its marine environment are by any standards spectacular, and as a society we must never accept that its riches are dispensable and somehow not worthy of our care. A healthy natural environment is fundamental to a healthy, vibrant society – and we must do all we can to ensure that the delicate balance of our wildlife and the landscapes that support it is properly maintained. To that extent, I am hugely encouraged by the successes of recent years where targeted conservation work has made real progress in improving habitats up and down the country, integrating wildlife conservation with farming, and extending conservation protection into our marine environment.

“There is a great deal to be done, but there is also ample evidence for believing that we can reverse many of the environmental mistakes of the past. I am convinced that the goal of ensuring that England’s countryside and marine environment remains in good health, rich in wildlife and accessible to millions is an achievable one – and as chair of Natural England I intend to remain firmly focused on helping deliver it.”

The late Sir Martin Doughty with then Environment Secretary David Miliband at the Kinder Scout mass trespass commemorations

The late Sir Martin Doughty with then Environment Secretary David Miliband at the Kinder Scout mass trespass commemorations

Poul Christensen was deputy chair of Natural England from 2006 before stepping up as acting chair following the death of Sir Martin Doughty in March 2009.

He was joint founder of the Tenant Farmers’ Association and helped pioneer early agri-environment schemes on his Thames Valley farm throughout the 1970s. He was awarded a CBE in 1991 for services to agriculture and the commercial development of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service.

William Worsley, president of the Country Land & Business Association, said:  “We are delighted Poul Christensen has been appointed chair of Natural England. It will be a real asset to have someone with practical experience of land management at the helm.

“The only way in which we are going to have the diverse countryside that we all want is through Natural England and rural landowners working together to achieve common goals. As a farmer, Poul appreciates the opportunities and challenges facing rural land managers, so his appointment is a big step towards that ideal.”

Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust, said: “Poul’s passion is in integrating conservation with modern farming. This is essential as Natural England works to help our agricultural community face the challenges posed by increasing food security within a changing climate. We look forward to working with Poul and his colleagues to find solutions which deliver thriving rural communities and a healthy natural and cultural environment.”

Sir Martin Doughty, a keen walker, was a former lecturer in environmental management at Sheffield Hallam University. He was leader of Derbyshire County Council from 1992 to 2001. Sir Martin died of cancer in March this year.

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