Management areas Water Quality Management Agreement, Condition 13/5/2015

Overview of the areas, located in Flanders, within which a water quality management agreement can be concluded, as determined by Ministerial Decree. The quality of surface and groundwater is a priority for European and Flemish environmental policy. Reducing the pollution of water with nitrates from agriculture is an important objective. Farmers can contribute locally to improving water quality by concluding a management agreement with the Flemish Land Company. Such an agreement means that the farmer has a high proportion of crops with a low risk profile growing on his arable land for five years.Parts with a low risk profile have a low average nitrate residue. By growing such crops, the leaching of nitrogen to ground and surface water reduces leaching. In addition, high-risk crops produce a lot of organic matter. This increases soil carbon content and improves soil structure and soil biodiversity. Finally, low risk-profile crops are characterised by low erosion sensitivity. This means that the leaching of soil particles, nutrients and pesticides to surface water is reduced.In order to conclude a water quality management agreement, the farmer must have at least 2 hectares of arable land in the demarcated management areas at the start of the agreement (all eligible crops except permanent grassland, perennial fruit and ornamental crops and woody crops are considered arable land). Within the management areas, the aim is to accelerate the improvement of water quality. Farmers who have concluded a water quality management agreement receive an annual fee for this.The management areas for the management objective of improving water quality are defined on the proposal of the Flemish Landmaatschappij.