The CLA presented a key paper in conjunction with the European Landowners’ Organisation (ELO) at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference on Friday 11 December.

The paper, entitled The Climate Change Challenge and the Land Manager: a European Perspective, looks at how land managers are an integral part of the solution to the effects of climate change in Europe.

Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North, said: “We know that land managers can help mitigate the damaging effects of climate change and this paper informs a serious and much-needed debate.

“Land use is integral in so many approaches to adaptation and mitigation. Our region is significant in food production, water resources, soil conservation, coastlines and biodiversity. Our forests and woodlands hold carbon and provide energy and building materials.”

The report concludes that the most pressing needs for the future of the European agricultural industry are information and advice to help reduce emissions, investment in anaerobic digestion and land based renewable energy, and access to official trading to take full advantage of carbon capture and storage in trees and soil.

Mr Chalmers added: “Of course, the efforts of our land managers must work in conjunction with other countries’ land use, especially deforestation in developing countries, but we must not forget that while most sectors and individuals can only reduce their negative effects on climate change, land managers can actually increase their positive effects - and they should be encouraged to do so.”