(AGENPARL) - Roma, 18 Luglio 2024 - (AGENPARL) – gio 18 luglio 2024 Education
1 Deliver Water Quality monitoring outreach events to farm businesses in the Lough Neagh catchment to build on the information provided by soil analysis and runoff risk mapping within the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS). To optimise nutrient application on the farm.
Develop a Lough Neagh science platform incorporating an online portal providing up to near real time water quality and safety monitoring and integrated ecosystem monitoring data. To improve scientific understanding and inform education and knowledge exchange programmes and support stakeholder engagement.
Development of an integrated data platform with modelling capacity for Lough Neagh and its catchments to inform policy directions and decision-making.
Research to develop an in-depth understanding of the Blue-Green Algal bloom and toxin (cyanotoxin) dynamics, cycle and fates to inform future surveillance programmes.
Increased level of Microbial Source Tracking to strengthen understanding of antimicrobial resistance in the environment. Further details relating to the Lough Neagh science platform (incorporating an integrated data platform) are provided in Action 33.
Provision of training in compliance and environmental performance to slurry spreading contractors. To reduce risk of runoff to watercourses.
Scope and implement a suite of water quality-based initiatives including farm sustainability training and advisory campaigns, ensuring that these incorporate actions to promote experiential learning. 5.
Deliver a communications plan, including an education campaign to build awareness and influence positive behavioural change on specific water topic areas including –
the personal responsibility on water use
highlighting bad practices in the home
maintenance of domestic discharge systems (Septic tanks)
Scope a Conservation Management Plan for Lough Neagh, to inform a future management plan towards restoring the Lough Neagh ecosystem to favourable conservation status. 
Deliver a Lough Neagh Catchment wide awareness campaign on Education and Enforcement practices through a departmental mailshot to raise awareness.
Reinvigorate a catchment stakeholder group to engage the public with industry and government in the improvement of water quality to ensure robust public participation in policy development.
Scope the development of a simple information system for slurry spreading. To provide a warning when heavy rainfall is forecast and conditions are unsuitable for slurry spreading and consulting upon mandating adherence to this advice. Reducing point source nutrient losses from agriculture.
Incentivisation/Innovation/Investment
Launch a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Phase 2 project to improve the Sustainable Utilisation of Livestock Slurry (SULS) and develop demonstrator sites to process livestock manure/slurry. Removes excess phosphorus from the environment11.
Establish and deliver a Livestock Dietary Emissions Challenge through the Defra-Led Dairy Demonstrator Project to formulate and test on farm livestock diets which reduce ammonia emissions, phosphorus losses and greenhouse gas in Dairy herds in Northern Ireland. Reduces phosphorus and nitrogen inputs
Subject to funding availability seek to deliver on the Lough Neagh wastewater schemes as set out in the price control determination with a focus on reducing nutrient loading, especially phosphorus and nitrogen. 13.
Commence a Small Business Research Initiative to investigate feasible and affordable solutions to reduce Blue Green Algal blooms when they occur.
Initiate research as part of the Lough Neagh Science Platform focussing on the nutrient recovery management options and evaluating the impacts of interventions on the ecology of the Lough in test areas, including zebra mussel populations. Provide evidence to inform policy and decision making. See Annex B
Scope the expansion of the Sustainable Catchment Programme (SCP) into more Lough Neagh catchment areas. Reducing point and diffuse nutrient losses from agricultural sources.
Scope the mandatory participation in the SCP within the FwN packages.
Deliver the Farming with Nature (FwN) Package
Scope and report on the most effective domestic Wastewater Treatment systems with the potential to expand to a septic tank replacement scheme. To improve water quality.
Establish a pilot tree planting project to test effectiveness of riparian buffer zones, focused on Lough Neagh and incorporate the learning into future programmes. Improve water quality whilst incorporating climate change mitigation and adaptation and biodiversity corridors.
Continue Lough Neagh Environmental Farming Scheme Group Project. To ensure an Environmental Management Plan for each participating farm.
20.
Scope a community challenge fund in association with ‘Live Here Love Here’, whose aim is to unite people in a shared effort to create a cleaner, greener Northern Ireland.
Bid for new grant programme to support organisations working to improve water quality and conservation of Lough Neagh.
Regulation
Complete the statutory review of the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP), consult on proposals within the updated NAP and introduce revised NAP Regulations. Reduce the nutrient losses to water from agricultural sources.