Policy paper

Farm wildlife Environment Act target delivery plan

Published 1 December 2025

Applies to England

Actions to support farm wildlife are those provisions that fit around and alongside productive farming (as opposed to replacing it). These measures support nature alongside productive farming and do not require land use change.

Statutory Environment Act targets 

The farm wildlife interim target will contribute towards the following statutory targets: 

• halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 

• increase species abundance so that by 2042 it is greater than in 2022 and at least 10% greater than in 2030 

• improve the Red List Index for England for species extinction by 2042 compared to 2022 levels 

Interim target 

• by December 2030, double the number of farms providing sufficient year-round resources for farm wildlife, compared with 2025 

Rationale for the interim target: why and how it will progress delivery of the Environment Act target 

The statutory species abundance and extinction targets rely on a wide variety of delivery levers, including farm wildlife support. Support for farm wildlife directly contributes towards delivering the species targets by encouraging actions that support provision of year-round resources and allow species to survive, thrive and move across our agricultural landscape. 

A farm wildlife action refers to approximately 100 specific actions across the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS). These actions can be defined by 4 broad action groups: 

1. nesting and shelter 

2. summer food 

3. winter food 

4. other habitat 

To count towards the farm wildlife interim target, land managers will be taking at least one action from each of the first 3 groups. This ensures year-round resources are available for species. The list of actions will be regularly reviewed, including where new options become available. 

We have used evidence of previous agri-environment scheme impacts and modelling, alongside an assessment of achievability, to inform the setting of this target. The target has been set at 42% of land managers (double the current 21% of farmers already delivering these actions) on at least 7% of their land because this level supports positive species outcomes whilst also being achievable. Empirical evidence (Sharps and others, 2023) found that Higher Tier agreements (with average bird-friendly option cover of 7.4%) assessed had a strong positive effect on the abundance of many farmland-associated birds in 2 of the 3 regions, whereas in the absence of agri-environment scheme (AES) provision abundance was declining. This target is about providing farm wildlife with the resources they need to thrive within the farmed landscape. 

Wildlife needs both summer and winter food sources. That is why we have included a requirement for these measures to be taken in combination, with appropriate resources made available all year. Evidence shows that delivering these actions, even on a relatively small area of land, can make a significant difference for species outcomes. 

This study also finds that careful targeting can reduce the overall coverage required to achieve species improvements at the landscape scale. To ensure effectiveness, this proposed interim target will require suitable scheme design decisions to ensure provided delivery is of sufficiently high quality, and in the right places. We have identified areas as priority based on the presence of 3 or more of 6 arable-associated declining birds. 

This target aims to increase wildlife on land used for farming. As such, it complements other targets more geared towards separating land for habitat creation, such as our habitat creation and restoration and protected sites targets, and the commitment to 30by30. Both types of provision are necessary for species to thrive. 

Delivery measures 

Table 1. Summary of delivery measures to support the farm wildlife target delivery plan 

Delivery measure	Description	Estimated contribution to the interim targets	Evidence of impact	Responsible	Status
Farm wildlife support delivery via AES	We will support farmers and land managers through Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) agri-environment schemes to implement measures to support farm wildlife alongside productive farming, by providing year-round resources for farmland species.	High	Sharps and others (2023) found higher-tier actions on around 7% of land had a strong positive effect on the abundance of many farmland birds in 2 out of the 3 regions, while declines continued in areas without AES provision. 2024 analysis by RSPB found there was an 80% likelihood of stabilising the FBI if 41% of farms enacted HLS-type provision covering around 7% of their land (with a further 29% adopting options on 3% to 4% of their land (Burns and others, 2024)) This has been adopted as the basis for the target. Evidence also suggests positive impacts of AES on other farmland-associated animals, plants and fungi, although gaps remain in the available evidence for some species groups (Staley J and others, 2024). Natural England has advised that around 90% of species requiring recovery under the D4 species abundance index need reduced agricultural pressures.	Defra with input from Natural England, Forestry Commission and others	In delivery

Key milestones 

The key milestones are: 

• the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme opened in September to those invited to apply 

• Sustainable Farming Incentive will be open for applications in 2026, with further details published in due course 

Illustrative trajectory 

As of April 2025, 21 to 24% of farm businesses counted toward the farm wildlife target with actions on at least 7% of their farm. 

For the purpose of this target, we have assumed a baseline of 21%. The target would therefore require this uptake to increase to 42% by 2030. 

Monitoring and evaluation summary 

The metric for this target is based on data regarding uptake of specific AES actions. The metric will track the current proportion (%) of land managers and farmers that are choosing Environmental Land Management actions to support farm wildlife on at least 7% of their farm area. 

We will use quarterly AES uptake datasets from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), viewed at the parcel level. This data is filtered for parcels containing the specific nature friendly farming actions. 

We will report annually in EIP annual progress reports. There is a minimal time lag so an assessment of whether the interim target has been met will be possible in the next quarter after the target’s deadline. 

References 

Burns F and others (2024). ‘Analysis of the effectiveness of Agri-environment schemes on farmland bird species abundance’ RSPB Research Report 78, (viewed on 11 November 2025) 

Sharps E and others (2023). ‘Reversing declines in farmland birds: How much agri-environment provision is needed at farm and landscape scales?’ Journal of Applied Ecology, volume 60, pages 568–580, (viewed on 11 November 2025) 

Staley J and others (2024). ‘Critical appraisal of agri-environment schemes for biodiversity targets: Final report’ UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and British Trust for Ornithology, (viewed on 11 November 2025)