To manage our land and water environments sustainably and balance social, environmental and economic requirements is one of the key challenges we face today.

Water Framework Directive

Current Work Streams and Services

Water Framework Directive

The EC Water Framework Directive (WFD), the most significant piece of European water legislation for over twenty years, came into force in December 2000 and established a new, integrated approach to the protection, improvement and sustainable use of Europe's rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater. For more information on the WFD see UKTAG website or UK environment agencies websites.

Since 2001 SNIFFER has been involved in identifying research needs to support WFD implementation through stakeholder workshops and other knowledge exchange activities; developing and managing research contracts and dissemination activities.

UKTAG –SNIFFER partnership

Aims and objectives

Since 2003, SNIFFER has worked in partnership with the WFD-UK technical advisory group (UKTAG) to support the identification and prioritisation of research needs and the delivery of research outputs in the areas of:

  • River basin characterisation;
  • Ecological and morphological classification;
  • Programme of measures;
  • Environmental standards;

with the key aim of supporting the UK environmental regulators implement the WFD in a transparent and consistent manner across the UK.

To learn more, please see our summary sheet on this partnership

For more information please see our proposed, active and completed projects and events.

Key audience

  • Environmental regulators and administrations;
  • Environmental NGOs;
  • Regulated industries.

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Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER),
Scottish Charity No SC022375,Company No SC149513.
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