Good management of land benefits people and organisations in a number of ways, including by reducing flood risk, improving water quality, developing healthier soils, more resilient food chains and more valued local landscapes. Creating markets for these benefits can provide new sources of income and profit for farmers. Private payments for ecosystem services already exist, but as one-off bespoke deals, usually between a water company and farmers to achieve better water quality.

With support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), this report sets out the Eden Model demonstration project in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, which expands on payments for ecosystem services. The project aims to showcase a replicable system that enables multiple buyers to work together to purchase a variety of environmental benefits.