Copy
View this email in your browser
April 2018
Dear WBP Member, welcome to the April 2018 WBP Newsletter

Er mwyn gweld y cylchlythyr hwn yn Gymraeg, cliciwch yma

Latest News

State of the World’s Birds Report 2018


A number of well-known bird species are now at risk of extinction according to the State of the World’s Birds 2018, a new report from BirdLife International which looks at the health of bird populations worldwide. Iconic bird species including Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus, Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica, and European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur are all now globally threatened with extinction.
The health of bird species is a good measure of the state of ecosystems in general. Because birds are so widespread, being found in nearly every type of ecosystem, and one of the most studied groups of animals, they are excellent indicators of the state of the environment.
One of the greatest of those threats, according to the report, is agriculture. The expansion of agriculture, as well as its intensification and the use of neonicotinoids, impacts 1,091 (74 percent) of globally threatened birds.

Text modified from Birdlife source
Puffin © Sean McHugh

Big Garden Birdwatch

The results are out and once again, house sparrows came top of the Big Garden Birdwatch 2018. Greenfinches and siskin saw an increase but there was a decrease in robin and blackbirds due to a poor breeding season. In Wales, the top 3 birds were: house sparrow; blue tit; and starling.

In total 420,489 Big Garden Birdwatch results were submitted across the UK, a remarkable total and testament to the efforts of volunteers.

Environment Statement

The Environment Minister Hannah Blythyn AM has set out the Welsh Government’s commitment to the full implementation of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. She outlined five priorities:
  • reversing the decline in biodiversity;
  • working with Wales’ national parks and AONBs;
  • increasing the number of trees and woodlands;
  • accelerating action on air quality;
  • and becoming a world leader on recycling.
The minister has also announced more than £3.4m for improvements to Wales’ three National Parks and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). The funding will be used to support a wide range of projects across Wales’ designated landscapes, including improving access to the outdoors, promoting conservation and regenerating some of their most fragile areas. This follows a commitment made by the Minister earlier this month to retain Wales’ designated landscapes and their current purpose of conserving and enhancing natural beauty.

Policy update

A Nature Recovery Action Plan Implementation Group has been established to steer and drive the delivery and implementation of the Nature Recovery Action Plan at a local and national level. The group met for the first time on the 3rd August 2017. The focus of the first meeting was to confirm the role of the group and set its initial priorities. The group has a wide membership from Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, NGO’s and other public and private sector organisations.
 
Task and finish expert groups will be commissioned by the NRAP Implementation group to take forward specific tasks. The immediate task and finish expert groups were agreed and will be focused on:
  • Future land use
  • Reviewing and updating Part II of the NRAP
  • Section 7 list criteria (an existing group)
  • Section 6 guidance
  • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Evidence and Research Needs project
  • Restoration and resilience
  • Planning and biodiversity
  • WBP conference
  • Invasive Non-native Species (this is an existing group with an ongoing need due to specific INNS strategies and drivers and as such will remain as a working group)
The Implementation group will take feedback from these groups and provide recommendations to Welsh Government Ministers and NRW, especially regarding Area Statements, Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act and the CBD target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2020.

The NRAP Implementation group last met on April 18th


Key legislation and strategies
 

Environment (Wales) Act 2016

For further details on the Environment (Wales) Act and a list of supporting documents click here
Guidance for Section 6 – The Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty Frequently Asked Questions

Natural Resources Policy
The publication of the first statutory Natural Resources Policy by Welsh Government has taken place.
The focus of the NRP is the sustainable management of Wales’ natural resources, to maximise their contribution to achieving goals within the Well-being of Future Generations Act. The policy sets out three National Priorities. These are:
  • Delivering nature-based solutions
  • Increasing renewable energy and resource efficiency
  • Taking a place-based approach
Next Steps
The Natural Resources Policy sets the context for Area Statements, which will be produced by Natural Resources Wales, ensuring that the national priorities for sustainable management of natural resources inform the approach to local delivery.

Area Statements – Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Stakeholder Questionnaire
NRW have set up an online survey to better understand the ways in which you would like to be kept informed of what’s happening during the Area Statement process. NRW will use the information to plan and target their communication and engagement around Area Statements.

The State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR) 2016
The SoNaRR report was launched in October 2016. A summary report and the full report, glossary and annexes are available to download
The report sets out the state of Wales’ natural resources. It assesses the extent to which natural resources in Wales are being sustainably managed, and recommends a proactive approach to building resilience.  
NRW want to hear from you if you could assist them in developing future SoNaRRs.
Please contact NRW at sonarr@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015
For details on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act click here
The office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales have produced a report 'Well-being in Wales: Planning today for a better tomorrow’ highlighting the challenges and opportunities for the future, driven by the need to change the way we deliver public services in Wales following the publication of 19 well-being assessments published by the 19 Public Services Boards across Wales.

Future Generations Framework
The Future Generations Framework has been created to support the public sector and others in Wales to deliver projects and infrastructure fit for the future. Using this framework will help projects to be developed in an integrated and collaborative way, based on what people need and supporting the well-being of communities today as well as in the long-term. This is the first version of the framework and we will continue to develop and create updated versions based on feedback from users. If you have read or used the Framework, please send your feedback to us via contactus@futuregenerations.wales

Key Future Generations documents: future plans, annual report, and ‘Well-being in Wales: Planning today for a better tomorrow report

Nature Recovery Action Plan
For further details outlining the aims of the NRAP and an explanation of its constituent parts please visit the Welsh Government website

Pollinators Taskforce update
The  Pollinators Taskforce met on the 23rd March in Newtown. Action points from the meeting will be available on the WBP website. The Action Plan for Pollinators in Wales Stocktake is currently been undertaken between Welsh Government and the Pollinators Task Force.
To contribute to the work of the Pollinator Group in Wales, and for further details of the groups' activities please contact Bio.Diversity@gov.wales or visit the Pollinator section on the WBP website.

Invasive Species Local Action Groups

Asian hornet identified in Lancashire

An Asian hornet has been found in Lancashire and surveillance activity is underway. The confirmed sighting of the Asian Hornet is in the Bury area of Lancashire. It was spotted by a member of public in an item of food, which has since been tracked back to Boston, Lincolnshire.

A Defra & APHA press release issued following the finding. Any potential sightings can be reported using the ‘Asian hornet watch’ app for Android and iOS or can be sent to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

Further information, including identification sheets and alert posters can be found on the GB Non-native Species Secretariat website. Also, BeeBase - April 2018 - Asian hornet identified in Lancashire.

 

Environet Resources

To help broaden the range of organisations engaged with nature recovery, the Welsh Government-funded Environet team at WCVA has produced a range of resources to help mainstream biodiversity considerations into day to day activities. In turn the resources help organisations contribute to the Well-Being of Future Generation (Wales) Act and Wales’s Nature Recovery Implementation Action Plan.
 
Its Resilient Wales resource, and short animation highlight the health and well-being benefits of a more nature-friendly workplace and aim to influence those who are concerned that this might be costly, high maintenance and really just a ‘nice to have’. 
 
It has also produced an 'Investing in Nature' guide to help individuals consider how they think about nature in the places where they work or volunteer. The guide looks at impacts on nature that can arise from activity in the home or workplace (often inadvertent and negative) and explains the simple, practical but often over-looked alternatives that can help wildlife to thrive. It also explains how organisations and staff can do more for nature, including influencing others, by including nature in environmental policies.
 
Environet Cymru is a Welsh Government programme working to support any community group or third sector organisation wanting to start or develop an environmental project. WCVA is the national membership organisation for the third sector in Wales.
 

Survey Focus 

National Plant Monitoring Scheme

The National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) is a habitat-based plant monitoring scheme which aim is to collect data to provide an annual indication of changes in plant abundance and diversity in the UK. And that data is collected by you, our invaluable volunteers. It is then analysed by scientists and enables them to carry out an annual stock-take of the UK’s wild plants, the results which are presented to the government.

Anyone interested in nature who can identify plants or who is keen to learn, can take part. As a volunteer, you are allocated your own ‘patch’, where you will record plant ‘indicator species’ in five plots in semi-natural habitats.

There are 263 squares allocated in Wales and currently, 142 are being surveyed leaving 54% of squares available to anyone interested in getting involved this season. Look out for NPMS training events in Wales to see how you can take part. 
 

Big Bluebell Hunt

The UK is home to a significant proportion of the world’s population of bluebells and Wales is an important stronghold for native bluebells. You can report your bluebell sightings using the Woodland Trust reporting link


Great British Wildflower Hunt 2018

Do you want know your wildflowers but don’t know where to start? Here are a few tips to help you. You can also take part in Wildflower hour takes place between 8-9pm every Sunday, where you can share photos of the flowers found growing wild in Britain and Ireland


Oil Beetle Survey

Buglife need your help to boost our records for oil beetles in Wales!
Buglife’s UK wide oil beetle hunt is helping us to understand and conserve these impressive and intriguing insects.  
We have five species of oil beetle in the UK, three of which can be found here in Wales.
If you find an oil beetle, take photographs from above which clearly show the top of the thorax (mid-section) to identify the species using our online identification guide. Then submit your record using the recording form on our website. You can submit a record even if you do not know the species.


BeeWalk

BeeWalk is the national recording scheme run by Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) to monitor the abundance of bumblebees across the UK. The survey would be impossible without volunteers, who once a month between March and October, walk a fixed route of their choosing (generally, though not necessarily, about a mile long) identify and count the bumblebees and send us their records.For more information and to sign up see www.beewalk.org.uk or email beewalk@bumblebeeconservation.org
BBCT have a variety of resources on their website to get started with identification http://bit.ly/1FWqw2r and you can also post photos to their partner website BeeWatch http://bit.ly/beewatch for help with identifying a bumblebee.


PondNet Spawn Survey Wales 1st Feb - 31st May

Freshwater habitats Trust would like your help in reporting frog and toad spawn in your local or garden pond. You can do your bit by taking part in the PondNet Survey Wales. The results will help map out the distribution of frogs and toads in Wales. The survey runs until 31st May.


The Big Seaweed Search!

Seaweeds are important. They form habitats, creating shelter and providing food for an immense diversity of marine organisms and also support fish nurseries and commercial fisheries. You can help MCS by signing up for your Big Seaweed Search guide and you'll be contributing to vital research by having fun and exploring your local rocky shore.


OPAL Surveys

Why not take part in an OPAL survey? The OPAL Air Survey can be done at any time of year and by taking part in the OPAL Air Survey you can find out about air quality near you and help OPAL scientists answer important questions about the impacts of air quality across the UK. Handy guides include field notebook, lichen and tree identification sheets. Resources are also available in Welsh.

The OPAL Data Explorer has recently launched allowing you to visualise environmental data submitted by OPAL participants for all current OPAL Surveys

This is our Year of the Sea

In 2018 we’re celebrating Wales’ outstanding coastline, and inviting visitors to discover new epic experiences all around our shores, with special events and attractions throughout the year.

Nature’s calendar 2018

Consultations

Planning Policy Wales – Edition 10 consultation
In light of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, Welsh Government are proposing to revise Planning Policy Wales (PPW).
Consultation link
Consultation closing date: 18th May

A Clean Air Zone Framework for Wales
Welsh Government
want your views on a Clean Air Zone Framework for Wales in order to improve air quality
Consultation link
Consultation closing date:19 June

Species of the Month

Species of the Month: Tipula rufina

Species of the month is a feature brought to you in collaboration with the Local Environmental Record Centres in Wales. You can submit recordings of the featured species or any species (no matter how common) to one of the four Local Environmental Record Centres - each covering a specific area in Wales. To view which LERC covers your geographical location click here

A member of the very under recorded family of Tipulidae, Tipula rufina is one of approximately 300 British species of Craneflies. Fortunately this species is relatively easy to identify, thanks to the heavy black line on the thorax, shown in the photo above. The species has fairly plain wings with a dark stigma, show in the photo below. If you can get a good view of the side of the thorax (ideally in a photograph), this species is straightforward to identify and record. They are particularly active during spring and are often found in and around buildings.

The species can be found throughout Wales, but is very under recorded. You can view the Welsh distribution on Aderyn here.

More photos and information about Tipula rufina can be found on NatureSpot, and you can also connect with the national Cranefly Recording Scheme on Twitter.

Text modified from SEWBReC source
Tipula rufina@ Howard Burt

Join thousands of people across Wales for a series of wildlife-themed events showcasing the rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes of Wales!
Confirmed flagship events include the annual Go Wild! festival at Parc Bryn Bach, Tredegar and a Bioblitz event at Nantclwyd y Dre in Ruthin - both events take place on the 9th June.
 
How can I take part?
Events: If your organisation is interested in holding an event in Wales Nature Week, please get in touch with your local nature contact in the area the event is taking place. If your event is confirmed, please email your event to the national coordinator for inclusion in the Wales Nature Week event section on the WBP website.
All events will be searchable by area and by date making it easier for people to find and attend events

Events

EU Natura 2000 Day 21st May

A day of celebration to mark the Natura 2000 network of protected areas, and to increase the public awareness of Europe’s rich natural heritage. This year EU Natura 2000 links in with European Year of Cultural Heritage, celebrating the links between cultural and natural heritage.

International Day for Biodiversity 22nd May

This year theme is ‘’Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity" and was chosen to mark the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity and to highlight progress made in the achievement of its objectives at the national and global levels.
St Fagan’s National Museum of History will be marking International Day for Biodiversity with an event on the 19th May, full details here
 

BES/UK Conservation Agencies Symposium: Securing Our Natural Environment for Future Generations

23 - 24 May Manchester

This Joint meeting of the British Ecological Society and UK’s Statutory Nature Conservation agencies will bring together policy officials, practitioners, natural and social scientists from across the UK and internationally to set the direction for nature conservation in the UK

Full details here

Wales Nature Week 2-10 June

Join thousands of people across Wales for a series of wildlife-themed events showcasing the rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes of Wales!
Confirmed flagship events for Wales Nature Week include the annual Go Wild! festival at Parc Bryn Bach, Tredegar and a Bioblitz event at Nantclwyd y Dre in Ruthin - both events take place on the 9th June.
 

UK and Ireland Lakes Network 2018 Conference

21st and 22nd May

In 2018 the UK and Ireland Lakes Network will be holding its conference in Northern Ireland. The themes this year will focus on lakes as a health and well-being resource, the sublime and poetic features of our wet landscapes, the past and present cultural traditions associated with our loughs and how and why people simply want a connect with water itself.

Booking and programme details at the following link

BEERN workshop

The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Evidence and Research Needs (BEERN) Programme Steering Group are holding a workshop, focused on ecosystem resilience and its practical application in Wales, on the 11th June at Aberystwyth University. If you are interested in taking part in the workshop, please email an expression of interest by the 25th May.
 

Beyond the Coast 2018 – 26 & 27 June Hull

2018 sees the tenth anniversary of the first Marine Protected Area designated in UK offshore waters. To mark this milestone JNCC are hosting Beyond the Coast, a conference on the future of our offshore marine environment
Registration details

 

Vacancies

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is seeking to recruit a part-time People and Wildlife Officer to lead on community and visitor engagement work at the Welsh Wildlife Centre and theTeifi Marshes nature reserve near Cardigan. The post will be responsible for recruiting and supporting volunteers, developing community links (including schools), contributing to the running of the visitor centre and nature reserve, and delivering grant commitments as appropriate.

Deadline: 23:59 on Tuesday 8th May. 

Job description and application form can be found here

Funding

NRW Funding Newsletter
Current funding update compiled by Natural Resources Wales and available on the NRW website

EU LIFE programme- call for proposals
The EU LIFE programme has launched its 2018 call for project proposals. This year, the programme is investing close to €400 million in nature conservation, environmental protection and climate action. The LIFE programme has simplified its application process for traditional projects on Environment and Resource Efficiency, and Nature and Biodiversity. In this new, two-stage application procedure, candidates will outline their idea in a concept note by mid-June. Shortlisted candidates will then submit a full project proposal in autumn 2018.
The deadline to submit the first stage concept notes for Nature & Biodiversity is the 14 June 2018
The JNCC is the UK National Contact Point for LIFE funding and interested organisations are strongly advised to seek advice and guidance from the JNCC

 

Full details on all the project themes are on the EU LIFE website

Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme
A new grant funding programme to help communities living within 5 miles of certain waste transfer stations or landfill sites take action for their local environment opened on 30th April 2018.
WCVA will be administering the grants which will support activities under three themes:

  • Biodiversity
  • Waste Minimisation and the Diversion of Waste from Landfill
  • Wider Environmental Enhancements

Organisations will need to be registered with eTender Wales. Further details on e-Tender registration and the grant scheme in general are available on the WCVA website.

Greggs Foundation environment grant
Grants of up to £2,000 and concentrate on helping existing not for profit organisations to deliver new projects.
Who can apply?
Any not for profit organisation can apply, preference will be given to small, locally based and community led organisations with a turnover not in excess of £300,000 per annum. Schools are also encouraged to apply providing the project is accessible to the community outside of school hours. For further details visit the website
Deadline: 22 June 2018

Tesco Community Funding administered by Groundwork
Grants of £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000 are available for open space improvements that benefit the community. Eligible projects include spaces such as pocket parks, school grounds, allotments, sports facilities, woodland walks and community gardens. For further details visit the website. Sign up to the e-newsletter to ensure you receive notifications.

Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Cymru offer workshops which focus on different funding programmes so you'll need to decide which is most relevant to you. You don't need a project idea to attend - just come along and find out more. The Funding Support Workshops are a great opportunity to find out about our funding, learn about our outcomes, get tips on how to make a good application and network with other organisations from your area. You will also meet the development team for HLF Cymru. 

Dŵr Cymru / Welsh Water Funding

Water Framework Directive Funding Scheme

The scheme provides financial contributions for groups to undertake projects which they can demonstrate will deliver improvements to either inland, ground or coastal waters. The projects in turn help implement the objectives of the European Union’s Water Framework Directive in Welsh Water’s operating area intended to drive up water quality.

Applicants must;
•    describe how their proposal relates to Dŵr Cymru operations or assets;
•    they may be directly related to reducing the impacts / effects of the operation of assets or discharges,
•    or involve ‘upstream’ or other work that could reduce the burden or risk of improvements being required at Dŵr Cymru assets.
Invasive Non-Native Species Funding Scheme
This fund aims to curb the growth and spread of invasive non-native species which pose a threat to indigenous plants and animals. A total of £60,000 is being made available for projects which will enable the company to support local groups to take action to prevent, reduce, eradicate or manage the risk of non-native species.

For further information about both funds please go to the following link

Copyright © 2018 Wales Biodiversity Partnership, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp