1. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROVISION, USE AND MANAGEMENT OF MILITARY TRAINING AREAS ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROVISION, USE AND MANAGEMENT OF MILITARY TRAINING AREAS GREG MARSHALL, DIRECTORATE OF SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FIRE POLICY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, LONDON WC2H 8LE, UK dsefpol-hdenv@defence.mod.uk

2. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION THE CHALLENGES FOR MILITARY TRAINING ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT STAFF SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT TOOLS THE DEFENCE ESTATE STRATEGY (REES) ENVIRONMENT RECORDS PERFORMANCE DATA

3. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy PROVISION OF TRAINING RESOURCES 230,000 Ha WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS BRITAIN 12 Major Training Areas 3 Major Tank Training Areas 30 Minor Training Areas and Rifle Ranges GREAT DIVERSITY OF FACILITIES AND TERRAIN Open manoeuvre for tanks Steep and wooded for infantry Training villages for FIBUA All types of weapon ranges Engineer training facilities

4. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE INCREASED FORCES LOCATED IN BRITAIN 1980s - 30% in Britain 2000 - 60% in Britain GROWTH OF PROTECTED SITES 260 Sites of Scientific Interest 85% of Natura 2000 Species NEW EQUIPMENT AND DOCTRINE Challenger II tank AS90 Artillery Apache helicopter

5. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy GUIDING MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES in trust and on trust “ We are very conscious of the fact that we hold our estate in trust and on trust for the nation. managing it in a sustainable wayit is no larger than it needs to be”. We have a responsibility to demonstrate that we are managing it in a sustainable way and that it is no larger than it needs to be”. The Strategy for the Defence Estate Rt Hon Geoffrey Hoon MP Secretary of State for Defence

6. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy SENIOR COMMANDERS’ NEED Cover policies, plans and activities with environmental impacts Use the chain of command and budgetary process Delegate responsibility down the chain Adopt current good practice for sustainability Carry out performance evaluation Ensure periodic management reviews INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Standard methodologies to control environmental risks, manage compliance, external pressures, and:

7. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT TEAMS EST NORTH - Catterick EST SOUTH - Salisbury Plain Support Estate Advisers Deliver regional projects Local Statutory Body interface HQ ATE - Warminster HQ support and advice Strategic projects across the ATE REES plan interface Liaison - MOD Conservation Office Resource management

8. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy SUPPORT TEAM TASKS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment SITE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS Integrated Land Management Plans (ILMP) Conservation and Archaeological Plans ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT Practical conservation initiatives Environmental monitoring MILITARY EXERCISE ADVICE Support for exercise planning

9. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy INTEGRATED LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS Programme developed 1996 for 14 Training Areas Baseline data of environmental resources Define the military training resources Identify requirements for environmental protection Optimise military usage in a sustainable manner Plan future infrastructure options Monitor levels of military training against condition Periodic review and update of management procedures

10. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy INTEGRATED LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS Component Plans Military Training Nature Conservation Archaeology Agricultural Management Woodland Management Pollution Prevention Landscape Assessment Public Access & Recreation

11. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy IN TRUST & ON TRUST THE STRATEGY FOR THE DEFENCE ESTATE RURAL ELEMENTS OF THE ESTATE STRATEGY (REES) PROJECT

12. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy COVER ALL SITES WITH RURAL INTERESTS Obviously... Training Areas Test and Evaluation Ranges Artillery, Missile and Bombing Ranges Sites with rural designations But not so obvious… wherever MOD has agricultural land, woodland, scrub, “open space”, wetland, moorland, lakes, coastline etc And cope with… other aspects of estate management (Proj Vanguard, Trading Funds, DSTL & QinetiQ, Overseas)

13. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To develop a methodology by Dec 2002 to deliver sustainable management across the entire rural estate: Organisation - MOD-wide framework. Sustainable land management method (EMS) Guidance notes and support for training. Baseline data and Performance Indicators. Develop “the means to measure our long-term need for rural training land” (with CSIT/ATE). Review/complete the ILMPs (with EST).

14. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy BUILT ENVIRONMENT ELEMENTS MOD ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM The MOD EMS (DCI Gen 124/01) ISO 14001 “All areas of the Department, including Agencies, will be expected to comply” “ensure all the environmental impacts of MOD policies and operations are addressed in the most efficient, effective and co-ordinated way” RURAL ENVIRONMENT ELEMENTS “Integrated Site Environmental Plan”

15. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy REES PILOT STUDIES ACROSS MOD Pilot rural elements of EMS at 4 or 5 sites…. Major Complex Sites - “Integrated Land Management Plan” gap analysis and EMS migration (ATE Leek and Upper Hulme) Sites with national designations (CMP site) to develop an “Environmental Management Plan EMS” (QinetiQ/DLO site) Sites with local designations - to develop “Environmental Management Statement EMS” (RAF site) Sites without designations incl Built Sites - additional “green” components to basic MOD EMS (RN site) RAF & QinetiQ have experience of built estate EMS CESO(A) doing built estate EMS aspects analysis 2001

16. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy TOOLS TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY REES ACROSS MOD 1. MOD ESTATE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (MEIS) - PROJECT DESIRE Piloting the potential for MOD-wide GIS access. Building rural data management plans. 2. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Top-level indicators - Annual Stewardship Report Site level - long-term environmental indicators Stakeholder satisfaction surveys

17. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy 3. GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE 1. Overview of the REES Process 2. Landscape protection & enhancement 3. Nature conservation 4. Cultural heritage 5. Public access and recreation 6. Relationships with Agricultural Tenants 7. Relationships with Local Communities 8. Training on private land 9. Performance Evaluation and Reporting 10. Coastal Management 11. Woodland Management 12. Disposals

18. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy COMPILING THE GUIDANCE MOD Working Groups (MOD policy and practice) Estate Management WG Landscape WG Access and Recreation WG External Focus Groups (Good practice and standards) Landscape FG Access and Recreation FG Task - Review: Legislation MOD Policy Good practice Estate Strategy Prepare Guidance Circulate for comment Finalise for publication

19. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy PUBLIC ACCESS AND RECREATION MOD has a declared a presumption in favour of safe public enjoyment of its estate wherever this is compatible with operational and military training uses, public safety, security, conservation and the interests of its tenants.

20. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy ACCESS AND RECREATION PROJECTS Army Training Estate Public Access Study ‘Walks on MOD Lands’ booklet Leaflet on ‘Access to the Defence Estate’ Website links to the DE site for access information Recorded telephone information on access Access Performance Indicators “Access for All” initiative for disabled access

21. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATION STATUTORY BODIES - consultation English Nature English Heritage Forestry Commission Countryside Agency etc NGO/VOL SECTOR - liaison Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Association for National Parks Ramblers Association etc

22. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy Environmental Support Team and REES “ I expect managers to foster...a culture which encourages employees to take responsibility for achieving,...as far as possible, best environmental practice” Rt Hon Geoffrey Hoon MP QUESTIONS ?

23. D SEF Pol Directorate of Safety, Environment and Fire Policy CONTACTS AND QUESTIONS - REES Keith Maddison keith.maddison@de.mod.uk Project Manager 01985 222877 mil 94381 2877 Martin Coulson martin.coulson@de.mod.uk 01980 594630 fax 594602 mil 94321 4630 fax 4602 Giles Rowe giles.rowe@de.mod.uk 01980 594596 fax 594502 mil 94321 4596 fax 4602 Vanessa Bashford vanessa.bashford@de.mod.uk 01980 594620 fax 594602 mil 94321 4620 fax 4602 Estate Office, High Street, Durrington, Wilts SP4 8AF