Land use policy critical for water resource management

The supply of water is among the major contributions made by the land to UK wellbeing and prosperity, according to a comprehensive report published today by Foresight, the government's future think tank.

Drawing on the work of three hundred specialists in subjects ranging from ecology to planning and forestry to economics, 'Land Use Futures' identifies pressures on land management that mirror those now facing water companies:
  • climate change,
  • a growing and ageing population with more people living alone,
  • demand for low carbon living, and
  • rising incomes and expectations about standard of living.
The report suggests as priorities for action: developing a more integrated strategy for quality and supply, including integrated catchment management; and a plan of action to reverse long-term degradation of aquifers by nitrates and other contaminants.

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