The UN, Changing Farming to Protect the Environment

It seems so obvious that re-introducing the discerning use of fertilisers, gentle ploughing methods and "conservation tillage" into farming is a good idea, and long overdue. For decades, many farmers have seen their fields as commodities to be used as conveniently as possible, tearing down old hedgerows and ignoring the needs of wildlife in order to industrialise what used to be a harmonious relationship of balance with their land. So much damage has been done - but I had not realised until today that these thoughtless, careless farming methods are contributing substantially to climate change too. [caption id="attachment_1531" align="alignright" width="150"] Farming in mid-Wales[/caption] To me, an advocate for environmental protection, the UN report is an excellent reminder of what needs to be done. It is such a pity that no-one seems very interested in it: it is not mainstream news by any assessment, and I came across it quite by chance, but it is important and sobering reading: global greenhouse emissions are not reducing as they should, and countries are more interested in promoting local interest measures than uniting to focus with determination on the most important issue confronting our world - along, I believe, with overpopulation, another major but ignored  problem. Not all farmers are guilty of neglect: those that take into account the simple needs of nature alongside profitability and vocation create a biodiverse richness which benefits so much and so many, including themselves. It would be lovely if media coverage of the UN recommendations on changing farming to protect the environment were to be headlined in the farming press, encouraging certain farmers to think and perhaps to change their methods without waiting to be required to do so by law. It would be wonderful if politicians chose to legislate on key environmental protection measures in order to help the Planet, but that too seems far away. Farming and protecting the environment should go hand in hand - why, so often, are they seen as incompatible? Where is the sense?   [byline]  ]]>