CSA TS-239:26

Description

Preface This is the first edition of CSA TS-239, Water, sediment, and soil erosion management strategies for agriculture using nature-based solutions . This Technical Specification (referred to as “this Document” from here on) is not a consensus project; that is, it is not a standard and it has not been formally approved by a Technical Committee. CSA Group acknowledges that the development of this Document was made possible, in part, by the financial support of the Standards Council of Canada as part of the Standards to Support Resilience in Infrastructure Program which promotes the development and update of standards and technical guidance to adapt infrastructure to climate change. This Document was prepared by the Subcommittee on Agriculture Drainage and Erosion under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Erosion and Sediment Control. This Document is not intended to be mandated or used for other legislative, regulatory, permitting, or legal purposes. Scope 1.1 Inclusions This Document provides an integrated approach to sustainable water, sediment, and soil erosion management using Ag-NbS across Canada. This Document provides support for the planning, design, implementation, and ongoing management of Ag-NbS that relate primarily to sustainable water, sediment, and soil erosion management. These solutions can be effectively used to reduce erosion, improve water management, and/or protect water quality. The Document provides a framework for incorporating NbS into land management through preservation, restoration, implementation, and maintenance to strengthen agricultural resilience against climate impacts. Other co-benefits are considered in the Document but are not the focus of the Document. This Document addresses Ag-NbS that may be implemented on agricultural land used for either crop or livestock production. This Document identifies the following types of Ag-NbS: a) forest management; b) grassland management; c) wetland, watercourse, and coastal management; and d) agricultural land and water management. This Document includes implementation of Ag-NbS in a diverse range of agricultural contexts and farms of any size. 1.2 Exclusions This Document does not cover agricultural nature-based solutions that are not related to water, sediment, and soil erosion management. This Document does not cover subsistence or nomadic agricultural practices, greenhouse production, aquaculture practices, or hunting, gathering, or trapping practices that take place within natural habitats. 1.3 Terminology In this Document, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Document; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Document. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.