Environment 06

to meet the tough challenges posed by growth, and its over 150 members are co-creating for water scarcity, drought and flood and make a Eastern England. By working across the Fens difference to the lives of local communities, then through this new taskforce to join up the worlds of we need to think differently. My hope is that water scarcity, flood risk management and water this approach will be quality improvement something replicated at landscape scale, across the UK and we will go a long way beyond.” Opening up renewed to ensuring that the whole region can meet Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Greater opportunities for the its environmental and economic Cambridgeshire said: “Opening up renewed Fens is one of my central ambitions in the face of an increasingly opportunities for the priorities. Effective water unpredictable climate. Fens is one of my central priorities. Effective management has huge Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the water management has huge potential to unlock potential to unlock Environment Agency, said: economic growth and job creation, alongside economic growth and “Future Fens will be a the clear environmental benefits in terms of job creation, alongside pioneer in how to adapt to the impacts of climate biodiversity and creation the clear environmental change across a complex of new green spaces for communities to benefits in terms of low-lying landscape. It could be a global case enjoy. I welcome the opportunity to come biodiversity and creation study of how better water management together through this taskforce to collaborate of new green spaces for not only mitigates risk, but boosts agricultural on a better, more resilient future for our communities to enjoy. productivity, increases natural capital, supports Fenland communities.” carbon sequestration and creates jobs.” Dr Robin Price, Managing Director, Next steps for the Water Resources East, initiative include said: a detailed scoping phase to establish funding opportunities and synergies between agencies. It The Future Fens strategy sits right at the heart is hoped that Future Fens will be showcased as a of the long-term integrated cross-sector water global exemplar of integrated adaptation to climate management plan which Water Resources East change at COP26 in Glasgow in November.

ANGLIAN WATER

www.anglianwater.co.uk

NEW PROJECT TO INCREASE RESILIENCE OF WATER STRESSED AREAS IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE

A new €4m cross-border project between England and France will help to improve how local areas mitigate and adapt to the threats of increased future water scarcity and drought in England and France.

Water for Tomorrow is an EU Interreg France (Channel) England project which will develop and test innovative water management tools and decisionmaking support systems. These will enable more responsive short-term management of drought events, and better long-term planning, as well as investment in water management at a local scale. The project will run in 5 pilot areas, three in East Anglia, one in Brittany and one in Hauts-deFrance. The project will address challenges related to over-abstraction, increasing water demand, and decreasing water availability due to climate change.

Barry Bendall, Director for Operations at The Rivers Trust, said: “Water deficit is a shared