Our natural environment is a valuable asset and a major source of national wealth, but our natural resources are under pressure. Only around half of monitored rivers are achieving ‘high’ or ‘good’ status, with concerns over a toxic mix of chemicals and impacts on ecology. Extreme weather events are increasing risks of both flooding and drought and soil health is at risk from climate change. Healthy soils produce food, benefit biodiversity, restore well-functioning water cycles, reduce flood risk, help lock up carbon to mitigate climate change, and increase economic profitability. Levels of air pollution, particularly nitrogen and ammonia, are impacting on the conservation status of protected wildlife sites and a partnership approach is needed within the National Park and with neighbouring local authorities to reduce emissions. One of the key goals of the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan is to ensure that we are using our resources from nature sustainably.  Protecting and enhancing our natural capital will help deliver benefits for people and nature, including long-term flood risk reduction, improvements to water and air quality, and soil health.

• C1 75% of Exmoor’s monitored rivers, waterbodies and coastal or transitional bodies achieve ‘high’ or ‘good’ ecological status (in line with national goals)
• C2 Improve water quality (ecological and chemical) by reducing pollution and sedimentation from agriculture and wastewater treatment in line with national goals
• C3 Increase natural flood management and nature-based solutions to slow the flow, increase water infiltration and storage and reduce flood risk, water stress and drought and to ensure there is sufficient water and flows for nature
• C4 Reduce air pollution (from nitrogen and ammonia) to deliver necessary improvements in air quality within the National Park to achieve the conservation objectives for statutorily designated sites
• C5 Improve soil health through good soil management practices in line with national targets, reduce compaction and increase water retention capacity, protect and improve soil ecosystem services (soil carbon, biodiversity, food production and flood mitigation) and increase resilience to extreme weather impacts