Defra has published its latest progress report for the 25-Year Environment Plan.

The annual report, which began in 2018, outlines the progress that the government has made and sets out future opportunities. 

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Farmers and land managers are in a key position to contribute to the ambitions of the plan across nature, water, air and climate.

The plan galvanises government action alongside the long-awaited Environment Act, with commitments such as the target for 30% protected land by 2030. 

Mark Bridgeman, President of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) which represents 28,000 farmers, land managers and rural businesses across England and Wales, said:

“It’s encouraging to see progress across the sector has been made. But the report is frank in its asks that rural businesses need to go further in making environmental improvements and becoming greener.

“These problems cannot be fixed overnight and will come at a significant cost, which is why the CLA is lobbying government to support changes including Catchment Sensitive Farming, grant funding to fast-track adoption of better practices, and in the design of the new Environmental Land Management schemes.”

Read the progress report in full here