Associations and organisations of the "Nitrate Initiative" call on the new federal government to consistently implement the EU Nitrate Directive. This is prompted by the current negotiations between the federal government and the German states and the EU Commission to improve fertiliser legislation in view of the ongoing EU infringement proceedings on the EU Nitrates Directive. The signatories include BUND, BDEW, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Deutscher Naturschutzring, Germanwatch, Greenpeace, Grüne Liga, Global Nature Fund, Verdi and WWF.

Specifically, the organisations involved are calling for a new designation of nitrate-polluted and eutrophic areas on the basis of concrete measured values, as the previous modelling is not EU-compliant. According to calculations available to the Nitrate Initiative, nitrate- and phosphate-polluted areas in the federal states have so far been artificially reduced by up to 50 percent and necessary protective measures have been suspended. In addition, fertilisation control is not possible due to the lack of specifications in the Material Flow Balance Ordinance. As a result, about 24 percent of groundwater bodies are still not in compliance.

The organisations of the Nitrate Initiative also advocate, in particular, a compulsory material flow balance for all farms, as well as the publication of manure imports and the presentation of a national catalogue of measures to curb manure tourism. In addition, they expect the measures to reduce nitrate and phosphate pollution to be included and published in the third management plans for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, as well as the definition of suitable water and environmentally compatible management measures for nitrate-polluted and eutrophic areas. "The Nitrates Directive must finally be implemented in such a way that the requirements of European law are met and agriculture has planning security. Of course, targeted support programmes and cooperative approaches should continue to play an important role in this context," the organisations said.

Online-Seminar of the WG Water of the German Forum Environment and Development in Cooperation with the European Water Forum and other Partners

The Human Right to Water, Water Grabbing and Protection of Rivers

Tuesday, 22^nd February 2022 – from 14h to 16h CET Online

The Water Framework Directive in practice

Factsheets on WFD Implementation

This page is in process.

The factsheets are grouped by their focus:

• Public participation
• Wet buffer zones (see below)
• Rainwater Management
• Paludiculture
• Floodplain Development
• Water pricing
• Water structure improvement (see below)
• Water maintenance
• Landscape water balance (see below)
• Reduction of diffuse nutrient inputs (see below)

Here you will find all factsheets at a glance.

• Public participation
  1. Microplastics in our water (2019)
• Wet buffer zones
  1. Natural Climate Buffers in the Netherlands (2019)
  2. Intelligent Buffer Zones (2019)
• Rainwater Management
  1. Stormwater Management in Urban Areas (2019)
• Paludiculture
  1. Rewetting and farming degraded peatlands (2019)
• Floodplain development
  1. North Rhine-Westphalia Floodplain Program
• Water pricing
  1. Application of Water-Taxes in the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein (Germany)
• Water structure improvement
  1. Bristled Fish Pass
  2. River System Project Ruwer
• Water maintenance
  1. In-Stream-Restoration
• Landscape water balance / Marsh protection
  1. Large-scale Conservation Project Uckermärkische Lakes
  2. Black Alder Afforestation on Restored Fens in the Trebel Valley
  3. Improving Landscape Water Management in the Stechlin Lake Area
• Reduction of diffuse nutrient inputs
  1. Wetland rehabilitation: The benefits of green filter in Albufera (2019)
  2. Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems, Wetlands and Buffer Zones within an intensive Farming Area in the Po Valley (2019)
  3. Water Friendly Farming in Leipzig`s Water Protection Zone

For questions and suggestions please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

EU BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY 2030:

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (WFD):

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/info/intro_en.htm

BIRDS AND HABITATS DIRECTIVE (BHD):

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/birds-directive_en

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive_en

NATURA 2000:

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm

MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (MSFD):

https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/environment/oceans-and-seas/eu-marine-strategy-framework-directive_en

DRINKING WATER DIRECTIVE:

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-drink/legislation_en.html

UNITED NATIONS DECADES FOR ECOSYSTEMS RESTORATION (2021-2030):

https://www.fao.org/3/cb6591en/cb6591en.pdf

EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en