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Ministerial Foreword
I am pleased to present this fifth report to Parliament on our progress in implementing the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003.
Sustainable economic growth is essential for Scotland's future success, and I am clear that a healthy water environment is a critical factor to the achievement of that objective. Not only does our public health depend on it, but our food and drinks industry, our energy industry and our tourism industry all have a stake in sparkling rivers and lochs. Our primary challenge is that of enabling our diverse industries to prosper whilst recognising the need to protect and improve our water environment for current and future generations. This report shows how we are continuing to work in partnership with these interests to meet this challenge.
Key achievements during 2007 include:
- Development of collaborative approaches to the delivery of River Basin Management Planning
- Continued development of measures to control diffuse pollution from rural land use
- Publication of SEPA's Significant Water Management Issues reports
- Updated designation of Drinking Water Protected Areas
- Publication of our policy on the setting of environmental objectives through the River Basin Management Planning process
- Publication of our policy on the development and use of environmental standards to protect aquatic ecosystems
These important steps place us in a strong position to achieve our strategic aim of producing a River Basin Management Plan which delivers our vision for both the economy and the environment.
Michael Russell MSP
Minister for Environment
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