Value of Scotland's Water Resources
Short accessible briefing summaring current academic thinking and evidence on the value of water resources. It considers the Scottish context and examines how the value of water resources might be developed. Produced for the stage 3 debate for the Water Resources (Scotland) Bill which took place in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 27th February.
Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, referred to this in her speech on the Water Resources Bill. See Scottish Parliament official report (17087).
Maureen Watt, MSP, lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament welcoming the briefing on 11 March 2013.
Natural Flood Management and Local Authorities in Scotland
Under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, SEPA is responsible for assessing where natural flood management measures (NFM) could contribute to reducing flood risk and detailing this in flood risk management strategies. Local authorities then have responsibility for identifying how these measures will be implemented in local flood risk management plans. To encourage local authorities to use NFM measures in the future, the Scottish Government and SEPA asked CREW to survey the local authorities to identify their requirements to enable them to work with land managers/owners to implement NFM measures.
Fate of terrestrial carbon in the Scottish coastal environment
Each year approximately 400 - 430 x 1012g of terrestrial organic carbon is transported from the continents via rivers to the global ocean. Yet it is estimated that only a very small fraction of the organic carbon dissolved in the ocean, or preserved in underlying sediments, seem to be of terrigenous origin, with about 10% of the riverine input of organic carbon (i.e. 43 x 1012g) actually buried in shelf sediments each year. So, the question is where does the remaining 90% of the terrestrial organic carbon go?
Impact of riparian invasive non-native plant species on freshwater habitats and species
This short report summarises the documented impacts of riparian invasive non-native plant species Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum and its hybrids), Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens grandulifera), and Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) on freshwater habitats and species.
Mapping of water supply-demand deficits with climate change in Scotland: land use implications
The supply-demand balance is a key measure of water resource sustainability.This balance is highly uneven across Scotland with much of the demand for water in the drier east. Agricultural irrigation is increasing in many areas, linked to land use change and requirements for high-quality produce. Better knowledge of the water balance can help secure its multiple benefits, including food security, energy crops, and the natural environment. A changing climate has implications for both water supply and demand but previous assessments have not included the influence of land use.
Blue Health: Water, Health & Well-being – Salutogenic Benefits
This research builds on the current evidence base showing a salutogentic (i.e. health improving) benefit of green space (termed “green health”). Based on this evidence we posited that water settings (blue space) should hold similar health benefits, i.e. offer opportunities for increased physical activity and recreation; afford opportunities for social contact – planned or impromptu; and promote psychological restoration and stress reduction. The purpose of this project was to review the literature and draw together the current research evidence showing positive benefits of water settings on physical, social and mental wellbeing.
Blue Health: Water, Health & Well-being – Sustainable Drainage Systems
There is increasing interest in exploring the health and well-being impacts of water in the environment (blue health), including the potential of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) to enhance amenity for residents. Blue health research is relatively new, and the purpose of this project was to review the literature and draw together any research evidence about the health impacts of SUDS.
Blue Health: Water, Health & Well-being – Flood Risk, Mental Health & Well-being
Qualitative studies on health and social impacts of flooding show that flood disasters, and associated experiences, can have severe and long-lasting social and health impacts, with emotional and psychological impacts often being more severe and longer lasting (e.g. 4 years) than physical damage to property, lives and health. The effects can include shock and disbelief, uncertainty, grief and loss, emotional exhaustion, loss of hope and meaning, General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), alarm, resistance and exhaustion.
Blue Health: Water, Health & Well-being
This research reviews the evidence base for both positive and negative relationships between water in the landscape, health and well-being (termed blue health). Water is important for human health, both physiologically and psychologically; however, much of the research on blue health has focused on pathogenic associations between water and health i.e. the effects of environmental toxicology and poor water quality on disease and illness.
Scotland’s rivers, coasts and seas provide a critical resource for a range of human activities. In the past, links between human activities and the environment have been poorly managed, leading to a legacy of degradation. Global changes are giving rise to a range of new challenges such as increased flooding from sea level rise and storminess and proliferation of invasive or non-native species. Catchments are inextricably linked to coasts by the flow of materials, energy, nutrients and species through the medium of water.
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