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by Karma Loveday

The Rivers Trust calls for nature-based solutions to save England’s rivers

“The race to climate resilience will be won or lost on rivers – and right now we’re losing.” So said the Rivers Trust, launching its State of our rivers report on Friday.


The report found rivers are “flatlining” with no significant improvements in the last five years. The problems cited included pollution, abstraction and habitat destruction.


The Rivers Trust pointed to agriculture and the water sector as the biggest offenders. It said agriculture impacts nearly two thirds (2,296 river water bodies); the water sector impacts over a half (2,032 river water bodies); and the urban and transport sector a quarter. Regarding the water sector, it continued: “The sector is also responsible for the single activity with the most widespread impact on rivers: the discharge of partially treated sewage effluent. This impacted 44% of river water bodies, and untreated sewage spills via storm overflow contributed towards 12% of river water bodies failing standards.”


The Trust argued for a “radical rethink” in the form of widespread investment in nature-based solutions steered by government guidance, and wider actions for government, businesses and households.


Mark Lloyd, CEO of The Rivers Trust, said: “Our report makes it clearer than ever that we may be winning small battles to protect our rivers, but we are losing the war. The trend of incremental, disjointed improvements which treat vital habitats as an afterthought must change. We need more robust legislation, greater investment, and to embrace nature-based solutions to turn the tide towards river recovery.”


For the first time, the report enabled the public to see localised data in the form of accessible interactive maps, giving them the information and evidence to “take back rivers and hold polluters and government to account”.


Only 14% of England’s rivers are in good ecological health, and every single one fails to meet chemical standards.

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