Climate change and biodiversity are closely linked, so progress will only be made when these dual challenges are addressed in tandem.
This regional roadshow event in Mid Wales discussed how supply chains and production systems in Wales can become more sustainable and efficient and profiled some the most promising nature-based solutions being implemented across the country from reforestation to regenerative agriculture.
The event explored how Wales aims to eliminate food and manufacturing waste, as well as addressing the issue of plastics in the environment and looked at the study of ‘biomimetics’ and how this can help us learn from nature.
Finally, the roadshow highlighted some of the many schemes in Wales that bring communities together, with a dual focus of protecting the environment and improving health outcomes. Below are 10 schemes that presented at the event which were funded by the Sustainable Management Scheme which is part of the Co-operation and Supply Chain Development Scheme which is part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
The project area encompasses the River Wheeler and upper River Alyn and their surrounding land, supporting a range of important habitats including ancient woodland, unimproved grassland, heathland and wetlands. It includes one SAC (Alyn Valley Woods), eleven SSSIs, part of the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB and areas of common land. The project aims to better link people with wildlife-rich and promote opportunities and benefits which are low-impact and contribute to the local economy. The project will identify opportunities to include the development of walking routes, provision of new access infrastructure, better management of existing paths and targeted interpretation. The specific provision needed would be agreed through consultation with the public, local authority/AONB, landowners/managers and tourism providers.
2. Wye Ithon & Severn Ecosystems (WISE) - Wye and Usk Foundation
This collaborative project will work with an established catchment partnership, including landowners and local communities to improve the natural resources in four smaller and three larger catchments covering a large landscape travelling down a stretch of the Wye catchment. Action will be taken to improve soil quality in agricultural land, create woodland to maximise the potential for reducing flood risk, habitat improvement for better biodiversity and water quality and improved infrastructure on farmyards to reduce pollution. The project aims to involve the rural communities and agricultural businesses in the area to help them understand and take action to ensure long term improvement of ecosystems and understand the services these ecosystem provide that are vital for helping address the impacts of climate change and flooding, and in turn providing opportunities for improved health and wellbeing. The project will also explore the potential for private investment to deliver benefits for water quality and carbon storage. Activities undertaken by the project will be supported by a comprehensive monitoring programme during the active project phase and after completion.
A landscape scale project supporting priority regions across Wales to maintain and create woodland and to restore, maintain and create hedgerows, which provide a wide range of benefits and comprise more than half the woodland cover in Wales. It seeks to put in place delivery mechanisms to ensure: (a) the condition of Wales’ woodland is maintained and enhanced and (b) that woodlands and trees fully realise their potential within the landscape of Wales, to continue to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits.
4. Gwynedd Council - Tîr a Mộr Llŷn
This collaborative project led by the Llŷn Landscape Partnership brings together statutory, environmental, economic and social groups. The project is centred on addressing the challenges impacting on the natural resources in the area. Communities within the Llŷn Peninsula rely on and benefit from their natural resources. This project therefore aims to maintain and expand a continuous strip of diverse habitat around the coastline, working with farmers to create connectivity corridors linked to the Wales coastal path, opening up recreational opportunities, benefitting health. It will also develop good practice in catchment management and invasive species control, producing significant economic and social benefits when allied to agricultural improvements and to socio-cultural resources such as the Wales Coast path. The Project will also be exploring the concept of ‘payment on outcomes’ with the help of three National Trust farms.
The aim is to create a model and encourage the wider community to pilot and run the new approach. The Partnership has developed a collaborative and cooperative approach on a local level, allowing all involved to engage, develop and implement practical work plans quickly and seamlessly. The Partnership will build trust and positive collaborative working in the area to help deliver this project. Time will be spent on engaging the wider community through holding local events and engaging local schools to raise awareness of the benefits of the work.
5. Wild Skills Wild Spaces - Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
Utilising an innovative collaboration between the Welsh NHS and the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (MWT) the proposed project will deliver a range of nature-based solutions to improve the health, skills and well-being of our local communities. New and existing habitats will be created and managed with project groups to spend meaningful time understanding and managing areas of local wildlife value. Increased group skills and awareness will enable consistent, site specific enhancement to habitats that overtime will increase the biodiversity associated with the site.
The diversity of greenspace sites and nature reserves improved by the project will enable local communities to safely explore riverside habitats, woodlands, grasslands, canal side, wetland and upland environments. Activities will also be focused on improved natural flood risk management to slow the flow of flood water to surrounding land. Based within the Welshpool and Newtown areas of Powys, the project will also focus on developing a structured, accredited programme of nature based activities to enable people to participate in the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’, that improve health & wellbeing, develop new skills, build confidence and reduce social isolation. The aim is for this to be available for direct referral from the NHS and GP’s as well as openly to local communities across Montgomeryshire.
6. SE Wales Resilient Uplands - Torfaen CC
The upland landscape across Torfaen, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent faces a number of challenges from landscape crime, loss of habitats and key species to poor infrastructure and fragmented communities. Building on previous wide scale community engagement the project will take forward new collaborative action to improve the uplands, support farm enterprise, improve visitor experiences and create more resilient communities.
The project’s collaborative approach includes input from the three local authorities, the police, fire and rescue services, commons associations, action groups, farming unions and Brecon Beacons National Park. The initial focus will be on land management to improve soils and water quality, biodiversity, and carbon storage.
Strengthening relationships between stakeholders and commoners to support upland communities, building capacity through volunteering, training and community engagement, increasing farm competitiveness and viability through diversification and the development of innovative business opportunities will also be the project aims. The tackling of the underlying causes of upland degradation caused by poor land management and anti social problems such as fly-tipping, arson and illegal off-roading and providing
opportunities for quiet recreation and enhancing the area’s tourism offer will all be explored.
7. Black Mountains Land Use partnership Co-ordinator Ambassador partnership
The Black Mountains Land Use Partnership (BMLUP) is a pioneering, cross-border collaborative Partnership between local landowners, graziers and relevant regulatory bodies, including Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Water and Natural England.
Located in the east of Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountains spread across Powys, Monmouthshire and through the Welsh-English border into Herefordshire. This cross-border partnership area covers 24,600 ha, with approximately a third of the area being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is of considerable importance nationally and internationally for its size, altitude and the flora and fauna it supports. Established through the Welsh Government’s Nature Fund in 2015, the Partnership promotes the restoration and sustainable management of the Black Mountains’ natural resources and habitats, and is a forum for discussion and collaboration on the current and future management, sustainability and conservation of the Black Mountains.
The Partnership aims to improve the quality of farming and environmental habitats, promote a sustainable and responsible visitation ethos, protect and conserve its natural capital such as water and soil, wildlife and biodiversity, and improve the well being and economic resilience of those who live and work in this iconic area.
8. Golygfa Gwydr Wellbeing Project
A community focused project which is hoping to build on the skills development and capacity building started and achieved under the Nature Fund. In its centre are the management and usage of land resources to: improve bio diversity and recreation facilities; develop sustainable community management systems; and promote sustainable communities with enhanced wellbeing and sense of place.
9. Coetir Anian - trustee and farmer
Located in Bwlch Corog in the Cambrian Mountains this project focuses on a 140ha area aiming to restore ecologically degraded and unproductive land to improve the wildlife and natural processes, which will benefit an overall area of 3,000ha and its surrounding communities.
The project will restore habitats connecting woodlands and heathlands helping to increase ecosystem resilience and improve the variety of wildlife. It will undertake activities such as blocking drainage grips and increasing woodland cover to help reduce and manage surface water flow, improve water quality, and increase carbon storage in soils and trees.
The project will also improve access to provide opportunities to exercise and enjoy nature. There are also plans for public engagement, opportunities for skill development, an educational programme for primary schools, courses for teenagers and activities on site, including volunteering.
10. Partneriaeth Tirwedd Caerffili Landscape Partnership
The focus of this project is on a large expanse of land south of Caerphilly bordering on Cardiff and Newport. It contains a wide range of habitats and species and designated areas and is also used for recreational and leisure purposes. The area is surrounded by a number of communities some of which are the most deprived in the South Wales Valleys. The project will be taken forward collaboratively through the Caerphilly Landscape Partnership exploring a public service board model and including a wide variety of interested parties such as the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, the police, Woodland Trust, Keep Wales Tidy and Community Champions among others.
One of the key priorities will be to improve the diversity, accessibility and extent of outdoor recreational facilities in a way that doesn’t damage or compromise the habitats and species supported in the area. This will also include support for an NHS Exercise specialist to work with some of the deprived communities near Caerphilly looking at opportunities for supported walking exercise and sign posting natural areas for mild conditions that may benefit from being outside in these areas.