Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Nitrates Directive - protecting waters from agricultural nitrate pollution

The EU Commission adopted the Nitrates Directive in 1991. Its aim is to reduce water pollution caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources and prevent further such pollution. Its primary emphasis is on the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers. The Nitrates Directive requires Member States to:
  • monitor waters and identify waters which are polluted or are liable to pollution by nitrates from agriculture
  • establish a code of good agricultural practice to protect waters from such pollution
  • promote the application by farmers of the code of good agricultural practice
  • identify the area or areas to which an action programme should be applied to protect waters from pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources
  • develop and implement action programmes to reduce and prevent such pollution in the identified area: action programmes are to be implemented and updated on a four-year cycle
  • monitor the effectiveness of the action programmes, and
  • report to the EU Commission on progress.
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The island of ireland

Once upon a time, and for 15000 years, ice a mile high blanketed Ireland. When the lingering Ice Age finally released and the Irish ice departed it left a landscape scoured. Across land bridges linking Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe plants and animals arrived to colonise the new lowlands, mountains and valleys. The world’s ice continued to melt, the sea levels to rise, and some 8000 years ago Ireland became the island we now know, accounting for just 0.01% of the world's total land area and the most westerly point of Europe.

Though at Alaskan latitudes, the country's climate is tempered, due partly to the neighbouring waters of the Gulf Stream and partly the prevailing southwesterlies that veering and backing make landfall on our sodden coast. These offerings from the Atlantic mean it is never too hot, never too cold. But without doubt it is wet. Rain lingers year round, never far away, though is most frequent in winter, the western counties and, inevitably, on the day of your parade.