Welsh NVZ Consultation October 5, 2016 12:00 am The Welsh Government is consulting on plans which could see the whole of Wales being designated as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). The consultation is asking for views as to whether to continue with the current designation of discrete NVZ areas that drain into polluted waters or apply a designation to the whole of Wales. The latter would see the Action Programmes (NVZ Regulations) apply across the whole of the country. The new rules would come into force in 2017. To date, the targeted approach covers approximately 2.4% of land in Wales. If this approach was continued some additional catchments would be designated as NVZs, and it would mean an increase in the total designated area from 2.4% to 8%. The consultation also includes proposed changes to the existing Action Programme to address the following areas; Soil cover – including cover crops Closed periods Manure field heaps & manure efficiency values Fertiliser application on slopes Holdings partially within an NVZ Responses are required by December 23rd. The full consultation document can be found at: https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/nitrate-vulnerable-zones-wales. A review takes place every four years and one of the arguments for designating the whole country is it removes uncertainty for landowners and they can plan their investment requirements. It would also mean landowners would be subject to the same rules throughout Wales; but it does seem rather a large jump from 2.4% coverage to 100%
