Catchment sensitive farming: Strategic partnerships

Under the first phase of the ECSFDI, there was support for Associate CSF Projects in catchments or sub catchments other than the first 40 priority catchments. All of these Associate projects have now been completed.  Further details on this work may be found on our document archive site.

A new programme of national and catchment level strategic partnership projects will be developed in Phase II of the ECSFDI. Through the strategic partnerships, England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI) will work with relevant partners, nationally and locally, on joint advice projects to influence land managers to adopt practices to reduce diffuse water pollution from agriculture.

The aim of the strategic partnerships is to make advice on diffuse pollution from agriculture more widely available to farmers and growers nationally and in 16 specific catchments (see below). The 16 catchments have been identified as being at risk from diffuse pollution by the River Basin District Liaison Panels with the Environment Agency and are in addition to the 50 priority catchments, which are the main focus of the ECSFDI programme.

ECSFDI is seeking partners who can match ECSFDI funds and bring expertise and influence to deliver the advice projects more effectively. Partners can be organisations with an interest in the catchment, the pollution issue or a conglomerate, co-ordinated by a lead organisation.

'ECSFDI are currently negotiating with five national partners to set up strategic partnerships to delivery advice: The Voluntary Initiative (VI), The Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board, Professional Nutrient Management Group (including NFU, CLA, FWAG, AIC and LEAF), The Association of Rivers Trusts and Water UK. Discussions are underway at a local level to identify regional partners for strategic partnership projects in 16 specific catchments, additional to the 50 priority catchments (see map).'

Regional Strategic Partnership Catchments (PDF, 20KB)

For more information on the national strategic partnership contact philippa.j.mansfield@naturalengland.org.uk
For more information on the regional strategic partnerships please contact your Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer or Regional Coordinator for ECSFDI.