EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. The Scottish Executive is aiming to achieve and maintain good ecological quality in Scotland's rivers, lochs and coastal waters by the year 2015 in line with the targets of the Water Framework Directive. The introduction of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Controlled Activities Regulations 2005 ( CAR) were key steps in carrying out this policy.
2. Diffuse pollution has emerged as a major threat to water quality in Scotland, as in other countries, and the Water Framework Directive requires new measures to be taken to tackle it. This paper sets out the issues relating to diffuse pollution from rural land use. Agriculture is the predominant land use in Scotland, and it has been identified as presenting a significant threat to achieving good water status. Forestry is also a major land use, and it may also place certain water bodies at risk. Diffuse pollution related to industrial or urban land use will be a subject for future consultation.
3. This consultation paper outlines the existing regulatory framework for controlling impacts resulting from rural land use, identifies the scope for good practice to minimise pollution, and discusses the incentives for preventive action.
4. The paper proposes a system of General Binding Rules ( GBRs) in line with the CAR to apply across Scotland. This is expected to be a basic programme of measures that will bring about improvements. (Where such activities are conducted by land users other than agriculture or forestry, for example golf courses and other recreational activities, any package of measures should apply to them.) Even so, the indications are that there would still be problems associated with certain pollutants in some catchments. For these areas it is envisaged that the national Rules would be supplemented by a set of targeted GBRs to apply to particular land use activities.
5. The Executive proposes to develop GBRs, both national and targeted, for farming and other rural land use activities, for consultation with farming and other interested parties over the course of the next year. At the same time, through Land Management Contracts, the Executive will be making available incentives to promote good practice aimed at environmental goals.