Prioritising designated wildlife sites at risk from diffuse agricultural pollution (ENRR551)

Diffuse pollution from agriculture has been identified as a causal factor in observed increases in nutrient levels and silt in waters both nationally and internationally. Diffuse pollution often occurs as a result of farming practices such as overstocking or overgrazing of land, the over application of fertiliser and inappropriate cultivation of soils. Although individual sources of diffuse agricultural pollution may be small; they may act cumulatively to constitute significant loadings at a catchment level.
This project was commissioned by English Nature to identify and prioritise statutory designated water-dependent sites considered to be most at risk from, or impacted by, diffuse agricultural pollution.