Economic development

Working with nature in Britain: Case studies

Heathland conservation in Dorset

RSPB Arne reserve

The lowland heaths of south-east Dorset have declined dramatically over the last two and a half centuries. The area remaining is threatened by neglect due to the loss of traditional management activities.

Dorset's heathlands are of extremely high conservation importance, supporting a range of rare and often specialised species of flora and fauna. They now require both restoration and management in order to ensure the survival of this important habitat and the species associated with it.

Recent attempts by the RSPB and other organisations to restore and manage Dorset's heathlands have had a significant positive impact on the county's economy:

  • the RSPB currently spends £300,000 per annum on heathland management in Dorset. Directly and indirectly, the Society's heathland management work is estimated to support 27 FTE jobs in Dorset;
  • heathland management by all organisations in Dorset involves local expenditure of more than £1.2 million per annum, providing 38 FTE jobs directly and an estimated 67 FTE jobs in total.

The future of Dorset's heathlands requires continuing public funding for heathland restoration and management. In the long term, heathlands will be more secure if they can be managed not only as nature reserves but as integral parts of a productive land use system, most likely involving extensive grazing and in turn supporting environmental tourism.