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Publication detail
HomeSustainable management of natural resources with a focus on water and agriculture
Final report
Publication metadata
Water is a key natural resource targeted within resource efficiency policy of the European Union, as well as globally. This study has focussed on research, technologies and options for sustainable water use and water efficiency; agricultural land management with soil and water benefits; and measures within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to address sustainable management of water and soil resources. Six key areas for improvement have been identified: (1) The legislative framework currently in place to protect Europe’s waters needs to be implemented fully and effectively as well as adequately enforced; (2) Water priorities that have been articulated at the EU level need to be more fully integrated and well implemented within the sectoral policies at EU, national and regional levels; (3) Water losses should be reduced and water savings and efficiency should be increased, in particular in agriculture and water scarce areas; (4) Land and soil management approaches aimed at combating soil erosion, preventing loss of soil organic matter, sequestering soil carbon and improving water retention are critical for long-term sustainability of farming and healthy ecosystems and should be promoted at all levels; (5) EU funds, including CAP, allocated to water priorities should be used in an efficient and effective way; and (6) improved data and decision support tools relating to water and soils are essential for making informed decisions that support sustainable management of water and soil.
- Published:
- Corporate author(s): BIO Intelligence Service , Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union (European Parliament) , Ecologic Institute , Institute for European Environmental Policy
- Personal author(s): Berman, Sandra ; Naumann, Sandra ; Frelih-Larsen, Ana ; Farmer, Andrew ; Toggenburg, Johanna, von ; Poláková, Jana
- Themes: Agricultural and fisheries research , Conservation of resources
- Subject: conservation of resources , environmental protection , management of resources , natural resources , pollution from agricultural sources , soil protection , water management , water management in agriculture
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| ISSN | ISBN 978-92-823-4515-3 | DOI 10.2861/27324 | Catalogue number BA-03-13-180-EN-C |