AFBI Researcher Outlines Guidelines for Constructed Wetlands

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) researcher, Greg Forbes, accompanied by Martin Mulholland (Senior Dairy Technologist, CAFRE) recently attended the Farmers Club, Whitehall, London, for the launch of a new guidelines document for the integration of constructed wetlands on farms in England.

This document marks a complete change in attitude to constructed wetlands and now provides acceptance of them as a viable and environmentally acceptable green technology for bioremediation of farm effluents (of specified category). The authors of the guidance document stressed the importance of the rigorous, long-term and impartial wetland monitoring and scientific reports produced by AFBI.

The document and the policy initiative resulted from data and reports produced by AFBI scientists from the Greenmount constructed wetland.  The monitoring, sampling and reporting by AFBI started in 2004/5 and continued until 2011.

The guidance was developed and published by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) in conjunction with Natural England and Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF). The latter is a joint partnership project between Defra, Natural England and Environment Agency (England) with the aim of achieving the Water Framework Directive objectives.

The full guidance document and other material is available on www.wwt.org.uk/farmwetlands

Notes to editors: 

AFBI carries out high quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DARD and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies.

AFBI's Vision is “Scientific excellence in Northern Ireland … serving the world”.

All media enquiries to AFBI Press Office

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