and this has significant economic implications; There are substantial economic benefits to be gained from maintaining and improving natural assets. The benefits will be maximised if their full value is incorporated into all decision-making; and, A long-term plan is necessary to maintain and improve natural capital, thereby delivering well-being and economic growth. To arrive at the first key message, the Committee began identifying those assets that are at risk and record them in a risk register. Perhaps the main message of its second report was the recommendation to establish a 25-year plan for restoring the country's key natural assets. Government responded to the recommendations of the second report in October 2014. The third State of Natural Capital report was published by the NCC in January 2015. It recommended that Government should develop a strategy, action plan and investment programme to protect and improve natural capital within a generation. Government gave its response to the third NCC report in September 2015 and later that month the NCC responded with its final advice to government of its initial three-year term. Second term reports to government The fourth report on the state of natural capital to the Economic Affairs Committee was published in January 2017. It recognised that, despite the UK Government's pledge to be "the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than that in which it was found", many elements of the environment were still in decline. Key recommendations: The government's 25 Year Environment Plan should be speedily progressed and put on a statutory footing. Accountability for and governance of the 25 Year Environment Plan should be assigned to a specific lead organisation, and should contain ambitious, long-term, measurable targets. Government 'Pioneer' projects are key to the Environment Plan's success. An investment programme in natural capital is necessary if the 25 Year Environment Plan is to deliver, and levels of investment should be linked to the net benefits they deliver. The government should promote natural capital valuation and accounting in both the private sector and public sector. The 25 Year Environment Plan should be a key element of development of British agricultural policy, post Brexit and be consistent with the needs of preserving and enhancing natural capital. The Environment Plan should create and enhance new wildlife areas and corridors in collaboration with a wide range of landholders. The National Infrastructure Commission should include maintenance and