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OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS FOR USING BEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: SOME LESSONS FROM
THE TARLAND CATCHMENT INITIATIVE
S Langan
Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK, E-mail: S.Langan@
macaulay.ac.uk
SUMMARY
The Tarland Catchment Initiative (TCI) is a partnership venture set up between
researchers, land managers, regulators and the local community. The aims of the
TCI are to improve water quality and increase awareness of catchment management.
The implementation of these improvements has been guided by an objective
assessment of existing water quality and selected ecological components across
the catchment and by consideration of the differing needs and perceptions of the
issues from a range of stakeholders. In order to engage the community, there has
been a need to undertake capacity building exercises to introduce the concept of
catchment management. This was also used to highlight the pressures and possible
intervention through improved riparian land management to lessen the detrimental
impacts on water quality and ecology. From this starting point, the TCI has initiated
a plan of action based on best practice guidelines. The approach adopted allows
for the implementation of measures on a systematic basis in order to evaluate their
efficacy; to develop the work as a show piece and demonstration catchment from
which others can learn. Results after intervention for water quality, ecology and
acceptance by the community are largely a success. The approach adopted, the
issues tackled and outcomes expected are central to many of the requirements set
out in the guiding principles for the European Water Framework Directive.
INTRODUCTION
Increasingly attention is being given to how catchments can be managed in a holistic
manner. One of the principle policy drivers for this in Europe is the Water Framework
Directive (EC, 2000). The central features of the WFD and its implementation are: the
focus on ecological status and stakeholder engagement (EC, 2000). Within Scotland
one of the largest pressures on surface water bodies failing to meet good ecological
status is due to the impact of diffuse pollution. As part of the characterisation and
impacts report in developing a River Basin management Plan, SEPA identify 25% of
river water bodies at risk from diffuse pollution largely linked to land use management
activities (SEPA, 2005).
In order to reduce the impact of diffuse pollution on the environment, a range of
Best Management Practices (BMPs) for agricultural land management have been
included as parts of farm agri-environment schemes and good codes of practice,
such as the PEPPFA code (SEERAD, 2005). A comprehensive report of many of
the BMPs available for reducing diffuse pollution to surface waters by Hilton (2002)
shows that many of these practices have not been evaluated in the context of the UK
or in relation to impacts on aquatic and riparian ecology.
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