E7: Healthy soils

Short Description

Healthy soils underpin the multiple functions of soils in food production, supporting wildlife, regulating water and regulating climate. More work is being done to define exactly what the indicator will include but it could include physical properties (such as a measure of soil structure), chemical properties (such as soil carbon, nutrients and pH), bare ground (soil) and a measure of soil biological activity. This indicator is not limited to agricultural soils. Further development of statistically and scientifically robust national monitoring programmes may be needed to provide data for this indicator.

Readiness and links to data

This indicator is not available for reporting in 2023 as further development work is required. Some data on aspects of soil health are already published in the Countryside Survey reports but they do not provide a full baseline.

The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme is another body of work being carried out by Defra with soils as a key focus. This will provide high quality data to assess the state and condition of natural capital assets such as soil.

Indicator Metadata

Headline indicator status

Production and harvesting of natural resources

Primary goal in the 25 Year Environment Plan

Using resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently

Relevant goal(s) in the 25 Year Environment Plan

Using resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently

Relevant target(s) in the 25 Year Environment Plan

Improving our approach to soil management: by 2030 we want all of England’s soils to be managed sustainably, and we will use natural capital thinking to develop appropriate soil metrics and management approaches

Position in the natural capital framework

Condition of assets - land

Related reporting commitments

Climate Change Risk Assessment under the Climate Change Act (2008)

Geographical Scope

England

Status of indicator development

In development

First Reported

Last Updated

2023

Latest Data