Most rivers ultimately lead to the sea, and so the health of our rivers is linked inextricably to the health of our ocean. Today (Thursday 14th March) is “International Day of Action for Rivers‘, and to mark the occasion, we’re sharing some of our vital work in the AgZero+ project; to investigate the “downstream’ effects of rivers on estuarine and coastal ecosystems, and to support positive solutions.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory's Professor Andy Rees said: “AgZero+ aims to support the UK’s transition towards home-grown food production that is sustainable, carbon-neutral and has a positive effect on nature. Some agricultural practices have become a problem for our environment – but it doesn’t have to be that way. And AgZero+ aims to demonstrate that.”
“Through this project, we’re investigating a multitude of innovative practices to support improved agricultural practices, including riparian buffer zones on farms, re-wetting of lowland peat, wetland restoration by managed realignment and the introduction of beavers, and the effects of these on “downstream’ ecosystems along the land-ocean aquatic continuum. I’ll describe some of these practices in more detail below.”