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Water Framework Directive An Introduction Patricia Torpey Integrated Controls Division

Explore the various agricultural measures implemented under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to attain and maintain good water status. This includes regulations on nitrates and plant protection products, cross-compliance and greening under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Rural Development Programme (RDP), and the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP).

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Water Framework Directive An Introduction Patricia Torpey Integrated Controls Division

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  1. Water FrameworkDirectiveAn IntroductionPatricia TorpeyIntegrated Controls Division

  2. EU Water Policy objectives EU Water Framework Directive • Maintain existing good status • Prevent deterioration in status • Achieve at least good status in all waters • 6-year cycles: 2015, 2021, 2027

  3. Good Water Status ? Measure of the quality of water • chemistry, biology, fish, hydromorphology

  4. Water Framework Directive Basic WFD Measures

  5. IrelandsRiver Basin District Second Cycle 2018 - 2021

  6. WFD Programme of MeasuresAgriculture Sector • Nitrates, Plant Protection Products, EIA • CAP 1: Cross-Compliance, Greening • CAP 2: Rural Development Programme • ASSAP: Agricultural Sustainability Support & Advisory Programme • Forestry Programme

  7. Food Wise 2025 Sustainable Intensification of Food Production Brexit

  8. DAFM statutory role Plant Protection Products Nitrates (nitrates derogation) Environmental Impact Assessment

  9. Plant Protection Products Regulations • Approval and placing on the market of plant protection products • Ensuring correct management of pesticides by users • Safeguard zones surrounding drinking water abstraction points

  10. EIA (Agriculture) Regulations Screening and consent process operated by DAFM • Changing farm layout, e.g. hedgerow removal • Bringing uncultivated land or semi-natural areas into intensive agriculture, e.g. water dependent habitats • Land drainage works on agricultural land

  11. EU Nitrates Directive • Protection of waters against pollution by nitrates and phosphates from agricultural sources

  12. Nitrates Regulations Whole territory approach All Irish farmers contribute to WFD delivery through compliance with the Nitrates Regulations Nitrates Derogation approval dependent on good water quality

  13. Nutrient Management Planning Nitrates Regulations • Prohibited periods for land spreading of fertilisers • Slurry storage requirements • Limitations on land application of fertilisers • Crop requirement for fertilisers • 170 kg N per ha from livestock manure Most important agricultural measure

  14. Research Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP) • Established under Nitrates Regulations to evaluate effectiveness of Nitrates Regulations • 6 agricultural catchments • >300 participating farmers – full advisory service • Funded significantly by DAFM • Phase 1 (2008 –2011); Phase 2 (2012-2015); Phase 3 (2016-2019) Website link • http://www.teagasc.ie/agcatchments/

  15. EPA Water Quality Report 2017 www.epa.ie Primary pressures on water quality

  16. EPA Water Quality Report 2017

  17. EU Agriculture Policy = CAP Building blocks to Sustainable Growth Rural development Pillar 2 Cumulative environmental benefits Greening 30% Pillar 1 Cross compliance 70%

  18. CAP Pillar 1Cross Compliance Ensuring farmers receiving Direct Payments meet requirements: • 13 Statutory Management Requirements • SMR 1 Nitrates • SMR 10 Plant Protection Products/Pesticides • 7 Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions • Buffer strips along rivers, protecting groundwater, preventing soil erosion • Greening • Safeguarding water quality, biodiversity and soil carbon

  19. CAP Pillar 2Rural Development Programme • Targeted Programme of Measures for agriculture • Farmers contributing further to achieving good water status

  20. RDP – Targeted measures GLAS– 45% of all actions benefit water quality TAMS– improving nutrient management and nutrient use efficiency

  21. RDP – Targeted measures • Knowledge Transfer improving understanding of environmental and economic efficiencies • Beef Data Genomics fostering environmental and economic efficiencies

  22. RDP – Targeted measures Locally-led Agri-Environmental Schemes • Freshwater • Pearl Mussel Scheme • Burren Farming for Conservation Project

  23. ASSAP Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme • 30 new Farm Advisors • One-to-one farm advice • Improved agricultural practices in identified areas

  24. The Forestry Programme Promoting the proactive contribution woodlands and forests can make to achieving WFD objectives Converting conifer plantations to native woodland Native woodland plot along watercourse, in certain water-sensitive areas Freshwater Pearl Mussel Conservation

  25. Summary WFD Programme of Measures Agriculture • Nitrates, Plant Protection Products, EIA • CAP 1: Cross-Compliance, Greening • CAP 2: Rural Development Programme • ASSAP: Agricultural Sustainability Support & Advisory Programme • Forestry Programme

  26. Thank you Patricia.Torpey@agriculture.gov.ie

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