SDG Detail

Modelling Nature-Positive Agriculture: Lessons in farmer-led nutrient management from Poole Harbour

Report

Project description

This report takes readers step by step through The Poole Harbour Nutrient Management Scheme (PHNMS), a new approach designed to curbing farm nutrient losses and achieve cleaner waters on protected coastlines, in order to prevent a potential Water Protection Zone and further regulation in the Poole Harbour catchment. The report ends with lessons learned and a look ahead. The ground-breaking PHNMS in Dorset is a leading example of potentially transformative nature-based solutions. Backed by the National Famers Union (NFU) and local councils, and managed by Poole Harbour Agriculture Group (PHAG), a farmer collective, PHNMS will be run as an Environment Agency 'approved scheme�. Whilst its primary goal is to reduce nitrate runoff from farms, it has the potential to deliver co-benefits for sustainable, productive agriculture, biodiversity, and carbon and climate goals. PHAG, partner and other catchment stakeholders are to meet the following objectives: Provide a framework for delivering nutrient reductions into Poole Harbour from the agriculture sector whilst enabling offsetting by other sectors, including water companies and developers. Influence the development of an effective Nutrient Accounting Tool that farmers can use to account for nutrient losses to the environment. Enable the trading of nutrient allocations between farms. Focus on improving water quality by reducing nitrogen and, in time, delivering additional environmental benefits such as reducing phosphate, sequestering carbon or biodiversity gains.