Resource protection
Farming has a vital role in protecting water and soil.
You can do this by managing land appropriately in risky areas, putting in place buffer strips alongside watercourses or using cover crops. Effective protection of soil and water is as much about choosing the right location as choosing the right option.
The Campaign offers farmers a range of options to help protect watercourses by:
- tackling the source of run-off, flooding and erosion
- slowing down pathways of soil erosion and run-off
- creating a physical barrier.
Many surface waters including rivers, lakes and estuaries could be in better condition.
This is already a key objective of the Water Framework Directive.
Your carefully targeted management can help prevent sediment and other pollutants from reaching water and causing harm to aquatic life or reducing water quality. Simple good management practice can often control the source of a problem.
Find out more about making the most of ELS and the Campaign for clean water and healthier soil here. The leaflet is also accompanied by this poster which highlight ELS options and Campaign voluntary measures.
