Introduction and background

Agricultural land is important in the context of environmental law, for several reasons including:

1. •

   the potential for pollution to land, air and water

2. •

   the potential for damage to protected habitats and species

3. •

   the development and maintenance of ecosystem services

4. •

   its contribution to natural capital

This Practice Note forms part of a suite of content on nature, biodiversity and habitat conservation including the following:

1. •

   Priority species and habitats

2. •

   Biodiversity—UK policy and legislative framework

3. •

   Biodiversity—evolution, background and key concepts

4. •

   Biodiversity and nature—protected sites

The UK has substantially developed its agricultural policy post-Brexit, following its departure from the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The Agriculture Act 2020 (AA 2020) underpins an agricultural system based on public money for public goods. It authorises expenditure for certain agricultural and other purposes, and makes provision about direct payments, and payments in response to exceptional market conditions affecting agricultural markets in England and Wales. The AA 2020 introduced an environmental land management scheme, which replaced the CAP's direct payments system. This scheme provides