Agriculture, countryside and conservation

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The interrelationship between agriculture, conservation and the natural environment is complex. Agricultural land management has contributed to the diversity of landscapes and habitats. However, inappropriate agricultural practices have also had adverse impacts on the environment through, for example, direct and indirect water pollution, land contamination, soil compaction and erosion, fragmentation of habitats and loss of wildlife.

Agriculture

‘The Agriculture Act 2020 underpins agricultural policy in England based on the principle of ‘public money for public goods’. Catchment Sensitive Farming continues to support farmers in reducing diffuse water pollution from agriculture.

Environmental Land Management schemes form a central part of agricultural policy in England. These include the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship and landscape recovery schemes, which provide financial support for environmental land management, habitat creation, water quality improvements, carbon reduction and biodiversity enhancement.

This subtopic considers key policy and legislation in relation to agriculture and the environment, the development of agricultural policy in England and Wales, nitrate pollution and diffuse pollution, the use of agricultural land to provide biodiversity net gain (BNG), ecosystem services and the development of natural capital. Protection of species and habitats and the

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