• Ambitious roadmap sets out clear plan to restore the environment

• £500 million to accelerate nature recovery at scale

• New commitments will see government tackle forever chemicals and reduce harmful pollutants in the air   

Restoring nature, cleaning up our waterways and improving air quality are at the centre of a new roadmap for the environment due to be published today (Monday 1 December).      

To drive forward nature recovery, the government is today also announcing £500 million is to be allocated to the future of Landscape Recovery projects across the country.    

This means more funding for boosting biodiversity at scale, creating wildlife-rich environments for people to enjoy, reducing flood risk in vulnerable areas, and improving water quality in local rivers and streams.   

Investing in our natural environment pays dividends - healthy ecosystems underpin economic growth and give us the building blocks needed for the nation to thrive. It also plays a vital role in the public’s health and wellbeing, helping to reduce the burden on the NHS and other public services.   

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan will accelerate growth, drive powerful progress toward the nation's legally binding environmental targets and create a better future for our children.  

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:      

“Britain’s rolling hills and stunning coastline are treasures we must protect for generations to come.    

“I am determined to reverse nature’s decline and build a brighter, greener future. Our new plan delivers the bold action needed to create nature-rich habitats, clean up our air and waterways, and restore the natural world we all enjoy.”   

The Landscape Recovery scheme supports large-scale, long-term projects that restore nature, improve biodiversity and deliver environmental benefits across whole landscapes in England.      

The projects combine government funding with private investment meaning they can open new income streams for farmers and landowners and allow for increased ambition.

Nature has been in decline for decades with one in six native species facing extinction with the previous environmental improvement plans lacking the rigour to achieve its aims.      

The Environmental Improvement Plan will set out how the government will:        

• Tackle forever chemicals that can harm people and pollute air, land and water. We will bring forward a new PFAS Plan which will set out how we will stop current pollution from forever chemicals, and how we will deal with the pollution that is already out there in products such as cookware, clothing and furniture.  
• Reduce harmful pollutants in the air with new interim targets to be set out which will speed up measures to protect public health including new measures to reduce pollution from domestic combustion. Particulates like PM2.5 can aggravate conditions like asthma and other lung conditions – putting strain on our NHS.
• Tougher measures on waste crime with stronger penalties to ensure that only the right people transport and manage waste, and a digital waste tracking service to modernise record keeping. This will help to crack down on illegal waste dumping and other environmental crimes.
• Restore nature with the amount of new and restored wildlife habitat outside protected sites to be increased by December 2030 in line with the government’s manifesto backed up by funding for landscape recovery, tree planting and peat restoration.
• Tackle climate change with millions to be invested in improving and restoring our peatlands, £1 billion in tree planting including funding to ensure our treescapes are better adapted to changing climate, and steps to reduce methane emissions particularly from the agricultural sector.
• Improve access to nature with £3 million invested to increase the numbers of visitors to Forestry England sites and improve their experience, with new facilities such as bike trails. The government is also committed to completing the King Charles III England Coast Path by next year.   
       

For the first time, the government will also publish detailed Environment Act target delivery plans which set out how actions will contribute to target delivery and progress will be measured.        

The previous version of the Environmental Improvement Plan lacked rigour, accountability and detail. This plan is a clear, detailed pathway to restore our natural environment for future generations while growing the economy. 

This government has already made significant progress in protecting nature. We have reintroduced beavers to the wild, committed to end the use of bee-killing pesticides, launched two National Forests and demonstrated international leadership by putting nature at the heart of the conversation at COP30 climate conference.  

Landscape recovery is one of the government nature-friendly farming schemes, alongside Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which also deliver positive outcomes for nature and sustainable food production. Over half of farmland is already in one of these schemes, with an improved SFI offer opening in the first half of next year.