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PEEP for Physics & Ethics at GCSE

Pollution

Agriculture – Drainage

Importance of wetlands:

Despite global and national recognition of the importance of Europe’s wetlands, they remain under serious threat from land use and pollution.

Many wetlands border on agricultural land, which is often drained to increase productivity.

Environmental signals 2000 European Environment Agency

Threats:

Threats to wetlands come from a wide range of pressures, the most important to inland wetlands in Europe is being close to cultivated land (45%).

Waterbirds depend on wetlands and the loss of wintering areas seriously threaten their survival.

Summary from the EEA report on wetlands:

The high level of agricultural land in and around Ramsar (special wetland) areas means that maintaining the future value of wetland areas is closely connected with changes in agricultural practice and intensity, and with the maintenance of grasslands. In some cases, agricultural areas may be beneficial, for example in keeping the landscape open and allowing birds to feed, graze and rest on fields and grasslands. However, it is sometimes more profitable for the farmer to set aside land or to grow certain crops than to enter an agri-environmental scheme with payments for landscape management .

A pruple dragonfly rests on a stem rising from a pool. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is a dedicated NGO (Non Governmental
Organisation) devoted to the protection of wetlands.

Non-native species

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IN THIS SECTION

MONOCULTURE
FERTILISERS
PESTICIDES
SOIL EROSION
NON-NATIVE SPECIES
ERADICATION
GENETIC EROSION
HEDGEROWS
DRAINAGE

SEE ALSO

AGRICULTURE & POLLUTION
ORGANIC FARMING & CONSERVATION
GM CROPS

Case Study:

The Somerset levels are one of the most important wetland areas in the UK. They are under considerable threat from a number of pressures although the main threat is from more intensive farming methods.

Wildlife & Wetlands Trust - Factfile

Why are the Somerset levels so important and how can they be protected?

What conflicts might arise between the farmer and the conservationist?