The main risk that is presented from Brexit is that the UK Gov may choose to end or significantly reduce investment in environmental land management
Building resilience in the agricultural sector will lead to a better future for the countryside once the UK leaves the European Union, the CLA have said.
Environment and Brexit Ministers appear before the Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into the future of the natural environment post-Brexit.
The organisation which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses said voting out of the EU produced an opportunity for better environmental outcomes for the countryside by creating a new world-leading food, farming and environment policy.
The main risk that is presented from Brexit is that the UK Government may choose to end or significantly reduce investment in environmental land management, the organisation said in their report.
"Over recent years more and more farm businesses have been able to include participation in environmental schemes as part of their business plan, effectively as a form of business diversification.
"The longer there is uncertainty about what future policy will be the more businesses will develop business plans that do not include participation in environmental schemes.
"This uncertainty is already present.
"The Treasury confirmed on 13th August that the UK Government would continue to fund all existing agri-environment schemes even if the contracts extend beyond Brexit.
"They also stated that basic payment schemes would be funded to the end of 2020 irrespective of the Brexit timetable."
'Society must work in partnership'
The report said Brexit provided an opportunity to build on existing policy and 'do better'
CLA President Ross Murray said that landowners and farmers are the "people who look after the great British countryside through careful environmental management".
"But this comes at a cost which the current market does not provide for," Mr Murray said.
"To successfully maintain the landscapes and wildlife that the public wants to see, society must work in partnership with land managers.
"Brexit provides a unique opportunity to sustain a resilient farming sector through a fully-funded policy that delivers better outcomes for our environment.
"We want to continue improving biodiversity, helping tackle climate change and managing the UK’s distinctive landscapes for this generation and for those to come. But the right investment is critical.
"Ministers will be setting out their initial thoughts to MPs this week," Mr Murray added.
"We don’t expect all the answers at this stage, but now is the time to provide reassurance to farmers, landowners and all those who care about our countryside.
"Ministers have a responsibility to lead a collaborative and efficient process through which a new policy can be developed.
"Land managers are ready to play a full and constructive part in that process."
The CLA’s written evidence comes before Environment Minister Therese Coffey and Brexit Minister Robin Walker both appear in front of the Committee on 7 September to give oral evidence.
Opportunity to build on policy
The report said Brexit provided an opportunity to build on existing policy and 'do better'.
"There are opportunities in design", the report said.
"Agri-environment schemes as designed by the devolved administrations of the UK have had as one of their main determinants avoiding the risk of ‘disallowance’ fines from the Commission.
"This has led to a system which is overtly bureaucratic and inflexible and where process takes precedent over environmental outcomes.
"In particular, the current approach to control and verification, demonstrating that what needs to happen has happened, is unnecessarily detailed and not designed to take account of how the UK design agri-environment schemes.
"This has created major administrative burdens for agreement holders and administrators with little benefit to the environment.
"Under a future scheme there is potential for a proportionate approach to control and verification.
"As part of this and where it is appropriate we should consider the use of results based payments.
"These are schemes where payments are linked to the delivery of pre-agreed environmental outcomes.
"This approach is only likely to be relevant to some types of activities – for example where bio-diversity can be defined and monitored – but the flexibility and ownership these schemes offer should not be overlooked," the report concluded.