New ELM scheme 'risks failing' common land 21 April 2021 | Defra is failing to address the future management of common land, two industry groups have warned Defra has been warned that the UK's new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme risks failing in its application to common land. The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) and the Foundation for Common Land (FCL) have today highlighted the importance of common land in England. Over one fifth (21%) of England’s SSSI area is registered common land and 12% of all Scheduled Ancient Monuments are on common land. This land, extending to around 400,000ha in England, is managed by around 3,900 active commoners with rights on this land in addition to the owners of that land.