Descriptive Fields
While the Water Framework Directive and the Common Agricultural Policy are central pillars shaping water and agricultural management in Europe, several additional EU directives and strategic frameworks also influence the implementation of Natural/Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRM).
These instruments address specific environmental challenges such as:
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Diffuse agricultural pollution
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Biodiversity loss
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Soil degradation
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Ecosystem resilience
Although they do not explicitly regulate NSWRM, they create important policy incentives, environmental targets, and governance conditions that encourage landscape-based solutions.
Understanding these complementary frameworks helps clarify how NSWRM contribute to broader European sustainability objectives.
In the following sections, we examine three key policy areas that are particularly relevant.