The announcement increases the level from 26% by an additional 400,000 hectares - the size of the Lake District and South Downs national parks combined. The land will be protected to support the recovery of nature.
The pledge came as the Prime Minister was set to sign the Leaders Pledge for Nature at a virtual United Nations event on Monday 28 September.
Following the announcement, NFU President Minette Batters said:
“Farmers manage 70% of the UK’s iconic countryside and play an irreplaceable role in protecting and enhancing our cherished natural environment. Caring for the environment and food production does and should go hand-in-hand, as has been the case for decades.
“Government’s international trade and environmental policy must be consistent and complement each other, which is why the NFU supports an enhanced role for the new Trade and Agriculture Commission to advise government on how best to meet the nation’s trade and environmental objectives and to prevent trade deals with other countries that want to import food produced to environmental standards that would be illegal here.”
More information on this story can be found here on gov.uk: PM commits to protect 30% of UK land in boost for biodiversity
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