Photo: Niels TimmerEngland’s rivers, lakes, canals and wildlife will get a facelift through funding for a range of projects announced by the environment minister Huw Irranca-Davies.
An extra 10 million pound is being invested over the next year in improving the quality of water around the country, which will in turn help the country's native wildlife, flora and fauna to flourish. The projects will also create or sustain up to 130 ‘green’ jobs over the next year.
Currently only 21 per cent of the country's water bodies are assessed as being of Good Ecological Status under European requirements and the extra funding announced, in line with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, will help to improve that.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will work with the Environment Agency on a range of projects aimed at:
*Restoring wildlife habitats in rivers;
*Restoring and protecting wetlands;
*Researching where river pollution comes from to help target future action
Improving river routes to help fish migrate;
*Removing invasive non-native species from some sites;
*Tracing pollution from urban sources such as chemical waste and taking action against polluters, and;
*Helping rivers and lakes to adapt to the effects of climate change, such as protecting them from pollution from higher rainfall.
Huw Irranca-Davies said: “This funding will be a really welcome boost for our rivers, lakes and canals and the wildlife that needs them to thrive and I look forward to seeing the results over the next couple of years.
I would also encourage our partners like the Association of Rivers Trusts to think creatively about how we take this work forward and maximise the impact of this new funding. I’m delighted that these projects will create jobs for several local communities around the country.”
Dr Paul Leinster, Chief Executive at the Environment Agency, said: “Improving the quality of rivers and lakes is a top priority for the Environment Agency. They are an important part of the environment for both people and wildlife. The extra funding will support local projects which will help bring life back to waters across England.”
An extra 10 million pound is being invested over the next year in improving the quality of water around the country, which will in turn help the country's native wildlife, flora and fauna to flourish. The projects will also create or sustain up to 130 ‘green’ jobs over the next year.
Currently only 21 per cent of the country's water bodies are assessed as being of Good Ecological Status under European requirements and the extra funding announced, in line with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, will help to improve that.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will work with the Environment Agency on a range of projects aimed at:
*Restoring wildlife habitats in rivers;
*Restoring and protecting wetlands;
*Researching where river pollution comes from to help target future action
Improving river routes to help fish migrate;
*Removing invasive non-native species from some sites;
*Tracing pollution from urban sources such as chemical waste and taking action against polluters, and;
*Helping rivers and lakes to adapt to the effects of climate change, such as protecting them from pollution from higher rainfall.
Huw Irranca-Davies said: “This funding will be a really welcome boost for our rivers, lakes and canals and the wildlife that needs them to thrive and I look forward to seeing the results over the next couple of years.
I would also encourage our partners like the Association of Rivers Trusts to think creatively about how we take this work forward and maximise the impact of this new funding. I’m delighted that these projects will create jobs for several local communities around the country.”
Dr Paul Leinster, Chief Executive at the Environment Agency, said: “Improving the quality of rivers and lakes is a top priority for the Environment Agency. They are an important part of the environment for both people and wildlife. The extra funding will support local projects which will help bring life back to waters across England.”
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