Ammonia pollution damaging more than 60% of UK land – report

Study finds most sensitive plant and wildlife habitats are worst affected, yet government has no clear plans to monitor impact

Ammonia and nitrogen pollution, mostly from farms, is harming more than 60% of the UK's land area and hitting the most sensitive habitats for plants and wildlife hardest, a government report has found, despite there being no clear plans to monitor or reduce its impact.

More than 85% of England's total land area receives ammonia concentrations above the critical level set to protect lichens, mosses, liverworts and similar plants - keystone species that are vital to ecosystems - while Northern Ireland is even worse, at 88%. Just over half the land in Wales is affected, and less than a fifth of Scotland.