§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to integrate the delivery of biodiversity action plans into river basin management plans under the EC Water Framework Directive. [176916]
§ Mr. MorleyDemonstrating how biodiversity targets can be integrated into river basin management has been allocated top priority for the Water and Wetlands implementation programme of the England Biodiversity Strategy. The Environment Agency and English Nature will shortly be commisioning a project to take this work forward, with results scheduled for March 2005. The River Ribble will be used as a test-bed for the work, reflecting its role as a pilot catchment for public participation aspects of the Water Framework Directive.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to draw up a register of existing and potential wetlands to help meet the requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive. [176917]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Water Framework Directive requires that a register of protected areas is drawn up to help determine management of water bodies. This register will include protected wildlife sites of wetland character such as those designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the Birds Directive and candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the Habitats Directive. The Environment Agency, in its role as competent authority for the Water Framework Directive, English Nature and others are actively exploring ways of how best to incorporate wetlands into 949W integrated river basin planning and management. The River Ribble catchment is being used to test such an approach, which if successful, could be applied more widely in due course.