This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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National Stakeholder Forum
29/10/2003
The first meeting of the National Stakeholder Forum, a
group which includes representatives from industry,
environmental groups, and farming and community interest
groups, was held tonight in Stirling to consider plans for
the future of Scotland's water environment.
The forum was established to provide advice to Scottish
Ministers on the implementation of the Water Framework
Directive (WFD) which aims to protect Scotland's lochs,
rivers and coastal waters.
Key issues under discussion included the development of
an analysis of water quality and the factors affecting it,
and an economic analysis of water use in Scotland.
Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural
Development, said:
"The quality of Scotland's water environment affects us
all, culturally, socially and economically.
"We are committed to working for a cleaner and safer
environment. The way we introduce the Water Framework
Directive will play a major role in this.
"The Directive requires us to protect, enhance and
restore all water in the natural environment - our rivers,
lochs, estuaries, coastal and under ground waters.
"We recognise too that the Water Framework Directive
will have a significant impact on those who rely on water
resources in their daily business.
"The National Stakeholder Forum has brought together a
wide range of organisations with an interest in Scotland's
water to agree how this vital piece of legislation will be
implemented.
"The work of this Forum will be critical in ensuring
that we develop the best regime for Scotland's water
environment."
The WFD, introduced in December 2000, applies to all
water in the natural environment - rivers, lochs, estuaries
and coastal waters as well as water under the ground.
It aims to:
- prevent deterioration in the status of surface
water and groundwater bodies
- protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface
water and groundwater with the aim of achieving good
status by 2015
- prevent or limit the input of pollutants to
groundwater and reverse any significant and sustained
upward trend in the concentration of pollutants in
groundwater
- comply with European wide measures against priority
and priority hazardous substances
- achieve compliance with any relevant standards and
objectives for protected areas