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What Environment Improvement Plan has to say about soil
The PM says "The natural environment of these islands has shaped who we are. It is the soil from which our country grew."
"We need to use resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently. Our natural capital is estimated to be worth £1.8 trillion. It is essential for securing our basic needs, maintaining our biodiversity, and sustaining our economy. We will: • Publish a baseline map of soil health for England by 2028 and bring at least 40% of England’s agricultural soil into sustainable management by 2028.
p76 "Air pollution also harms biodiversity. Ammonia emissions, primarily from farming, cause excessive nitrogen accumulation in soils. This favours a limited selection of common, fast-growing plants species, such as nettles, which outcompete nitrogen sensitive species such as wildflowers. Ultimately this reduces lower overall biodiversity, both in plant species but also animal species which are reliant on specific nitrogen-sensitive plants. When too much nitrogen has accumulated in soils, some habitats take decades to recover without active management (such as vegetation or soil removal) which is extremely difficult and expensive to achieve at scale.
p103 Interim Target 2
"Reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution from agriculture to the water environment by 15% in catchments containing protected sites in unfavourable condition due to nutrient pollution by 31 January 2028. Farming creates a range of water pollution risks, such as nutrient runoff when fertilisers and manures are spread, and erosion of soil following tillage.
This chapter sets out how we are managing valued natural resources including timber and forestry, fish, food and soil.
'Improving and protecting soil health'
Healthy soil will provide natural protection against the impacts of climate change, such as flooding and drought and will increase the diversity of our plants and animals and their ability to thrive.
Targets include "Through our new farming schemes, bring at least 40% of England’s agricultural soil into sustainable management by 2028, and increase this to 60% by 2030.
"Continue to deliver the agricultural transition to reinvest £2.4 billion per year over the course of this Parliament to incentivise farmers and land managers to improve soil health, restore peatland and establish and restore woodlands and forests, through our new farming schemes.
4. Improving and protecting soil health
4. Improving and protecting soil health
"Support farmers and land managers Approximately 70% of England’s soil is agricultural. So Defra has introduced the arable and horticultural soils standard and improved grassland soils standard under the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Farmers are being rewarded for actions that protect the soil from erosion, increase soil organic matter, and enable the plants and organisms that live in the soil to function effectively. This includes the introduction of herbal leys and the use of grass-legume mixtures or cover crops. Defra will continue to incentivise farmers and land managers under our new agri-environment schemes to manage land in a way that improves and protects the overall health and structure of the soil. (CC - as of Sept 2023, less than 0,5% SFI has been claimed). By 2028 we will bring at least 40% of England’s agricultural soil into sustainable management through our new farming schemes, increasing this to up to 60% by 2030. Establish comprehensive baseline data We monitor soil health as part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA), but on top of this Defra will: •
Establish a soil health indicator under the 25 Year Environment Plan Outcome Indicator Framework. • Publish a baseline map of soil health for England by 2028. • Support farmers and land managers to establish their own soil health baseline, so they can best manage the health of their soil. • Provide a methodology and tools to collect consistent information about the health of the soil under all land uses. • Share current guidance and best practice with farmers and land managers to improve their knowledge and work with them on how to improve soil health. We are supporting our farmers to bring 60% of England’s soils into sustainable management by 2030 181 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2023 USING RESOURCES FROM NATURE SUSTAINABLY Prevent valuable soil resources from being sent to landfill In 2016, soil made up 58% of material sent to landfill in the UK. In construction projects, the careful re-use of soil can avoid soil being designated a waste material and to bring it back to beneficial use, helping create more green spaces and increasing biodiversity. We are working to: • In 2023, publish a revised Code of Practice for the sustainable use of soil on construction sites, which will help to reduce the amount of soil sent to landfill. • Begin development of a Soil Re-Use and Storage Depot scheme to help prevent soil that would otherwise be classified as waste going to landfill, and encourage remediation and re-use of soil. We will start piloting this by 2026.
Secure the integrity of future soil carbon codes There are several proprietary soil carbon codes and growing interest in an agricultural soil carbon market. However, there are concerns around the additionality and permanence of increases in soil carbon storage for climate change mitigation benefits. Any soil carbon code must be underpinned by scientifically robust methodologies to protect buyers and sellers and ensure the integrity of the market. Defra will support the development of high-integrity markets for ecosystem services. This includes minimum requirements that carbon codes should adhere to. "
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