The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has submitted written evidence to the Dartmoor Review calling for a fundamental rethink of Natural England's policy towards grazing within the protected sites on Dartmoor.

TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn, said "The TFA welcomed the establishment of the Dartmoor Review under the Chairmanship of David Fursdon. It has a huge and vital task to complete in a relatively short period of time. The conclusions of this review will have significant and lasting implications, not only for the management of Dartmoor, but of other commons and protected sites across both England and the devolved nations of the United Kingdom".

The Dartmoor Review was established by DEFRA in the wake of huge criticism of Government policy, led by Natural England, towards the management of protected sites on Dartmoor which was failing farmers and the environment. To date, the dominant approach towards ecological improvement within the protected landscapes on Dartmoor has been the reduction of livestock numbers. Beginning in the 1990s with the Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme, the commons of Dartmoor have lost between 50% and 80% of their livestock. However, this stock reduction has caused immeasurable damage to the historic commoning community and the hefts they worked to support with little or no benefit for the environment.

"Despite the failure of Natural England's policy, it is alarming that it appears to be carrying on regardless as if the Dartmoor Review was not in existence and its homework was not being marked. It is continuing to use its consent process on SSSI's and the threat of 'Stop Notices' to reduce grazing further, or indeed prohibit it altogether," said Mr Dunn.

"The 'anti-grazing' approach has led to the proliferation of species such as molinia and gorse in areas where grazing has been significantly reduced or abandoned. This has resulted in localised overgrazing in the remaining areas. Further stock reductions are not the answer. Better grazing management using a mix of cattle and sheep is the recipe that will produce the required results. The stock reduction medicine, routinely prescribed by Natural England, is simply not working," said Mr Dunn.

"Until the Dartmoor review has been able to complete its work and DEFRA has decided how best to respond, Natural England must desist from pursuing further stock reduction activities on Dartmoor. These risk causing irrecoverable damage to farm businesses, historic hefts and cultural heritage without being able to demonstrate any potential environmental benefit. Once we have the Dartmoor Review conclusions to hand, those will need to be worked through between government, graziers, tenants, landowners and other stakeholders," said Mr Dunn.