This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Strategy to prevent pollution of watercourses
13/12/2005
A strategy to prevent the pollution of watercourses and safeguard biodiversity has issued today for consultation.
It proposes the introduction of a set of general binding rules, based on good practice recommendations, and calls for the development of incentives through Land Management Contracts.
Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The protection of watercourses is an essential part of our overall commitment to conserving biodiversity and safeguarding Scotland's natural resources.
"Tackling diffuse pollution from rural land use will not be easy and will require the Executive, SEPA, NFU Scotland and individual farmers in particular to work together in developing the guidelines needed to conserve and enhance the environment.
"Collaboration with stakeholders has proved successful in the past in developing other agri-environment measures.''
The Executive, during the development of the strategy, will examine the scope in the Land Management Contract system to provide the right incentives for farmers to minimise water pollution.
While the proposed strategy concentrates on agriculture, the rules should apply, for instance in relation to pesticides, to all land users.
SEPA estimate that some 750,000 tons of soil, 45,000 tons of nitrate and 2,800 tons of phosphate are lost to Scottish agriculture per year through run-off. The effects of these losses can be harmful to the environment and to biodiversity.
The Executive recognises that a great deal of work has been done by farmers, individually or through groups, in recent years. Farmers in the Rural Stewardship Scheme have taken steps to adopt environmentally friendly practices such as fencing cattle away from watercourses to protect river water quality.
Previous work with NFU Scotland, the Scottish Agricultural College and SEPA has resulted in the publication of guidance on good practice such as the PEPFAA Code, the 4 Point Plan and the Farm Soils Plan.
A network of monitor farms has been established to assess strategies and ideas as a benchmark to best practice.
The industry - led and financed Voluntary Initiative on Pesticides was established to oversee progress in reducing the environmental effects of pesticide use. The Scottish group is convened by the NFUS and includes the crop protection industry, SEPA and Environment LINK.