WATER, LIFE AND CULTURE: THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

Although wetlands are referred to in the statement of purpose of the Water Framework Directive and in the objectives for groundwater status. there are few further references to Member States'obligations towards them in the body of the Directive or its annexes. This paper (a) describes wetlands and their functions, and argues that they play an essential role in aquatic systems, (b) explains the place of wetlands within the Directive, and (c) advocates approaches to implementation in the UK which will ensure maximum human and ecological benefit.