This Policy Framework sets out our objectives (what we want to achieve) and policies (broadly how we will meet the objectives) for managing the National Landscape to achieve the Vision. The policy framework concentrates on three key areas of interaction with natural beauty and the National Landscape’s landscape:

• A: The Working Landscape, covering farming, forestry, fishing and conservation land management within the National Landscape.
• B: Exploring, Understanding and Engaging, covering access, tourism, recreation and educational use of the National Landscape.
• C: Planning for Landscape Quality, covering forward planning, development management and infrastructure.

In addition, there are objectives and policies which refer to the methods by which the conservation and enhancement of the National Landscape’s natural beauty will be best achieved. This is called:

• D: Ways of Working

Each chapter includes background information to describe the topic, its significance to the National Landscape and its purposes, and a description of the current pressures and opportunities that relate to the topic.

There is also a description of the organisations with which the National Landscape Partnership works on each topic: this list is not exclusive, and all parties interested in delivery are welcomed.

Policy context

This Management Plan sets out the priorities specifically for the Dorset National Landscape in relation to the purposes of the Natinal Landscape designation. Delivery of the plan will need to address several key challenges which have implications for the National Landscape in coming years, described in Chapter 4.

There are many other plans, strategies and policies that affect the management of the National Landscape. These are presented in the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the National Landscape Management Plan and are not repeated within this document.

Action planning

Annual, rolling action plans are drawn up by the National Landscape team. These concentrate on delivery directly by the team and its immediate partners and are available on the National Landscape website. ‘Offers’ of delivery are welcomed and should be made directly to the National Landscape team manager.