Dear WBP Member, welcome to the June 2018 WBP Newsletter
Er mwyn gweld y cylchlythyr hwn yn Gymraeg, cliciwch yma
|
|
Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals: Technical Summary
Almost one in five of British mammal species face a high risk of extinction, according to the first comprehensive review of their populations for more than 20 years launched by The Mammal Society.
The population size, range size, temporal trends and future prospects of Britain’s 58 terrestrial mammals were assessed. Hedgehog, red squirrel and water vole amongst others have all suffered major declines in either range or population size while increases in the geographical range and population size were seen in otter, lesser and greater horseshoe bat amongst others.
The report was compiled by the Mammal Society under contract to Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Did you know Britain has 44 native species that arrived before the formation of the English Channel and 58 in total as a result of recent and historical introductions.
The Mammal Society
Image © Margaret Holland
|
|
Plastic microbeads in cosmetics to be banned in Wales
Plastic microbeads will be banned from bathroom products such as shower gel and toothpaste in Wales, after assembly members backed the move.
Plastic microbeads are too small to be filtered out in waste water treatment plants and are polluting the oceans with a detrimental effect on marine life and are entering the food chain.
The ban will come into force on 30 June.
|
|
Woodland and Trees Strategy for Wales launched by Welsh Government
‘Woodlands for Wales’ includes plans for both large and small scale woodlands with both conifer and broad-leaved tree species. It recognises the importance of increasing the number of trees in the wider countryside and in urban environments.
The strategy has been updated to take into account new legislation and policies since the previous strategy was published in 2009.
Link: Woodlands for Wales |
|
Summary of the responses received to the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources consultation- Welsh Government Written Statement
The exercise provided an opportunity to hear views on the possible benefits and challenges the UK’s exit from the EU represents, as well as gain views on the regulatory approaches, which may be required in the short and long term. There was general support for delivering sustainable management of Wales’ natural resources.
Read the full summary and the consultation responses
|
|
Proposed Swansea Bay tidal lagoon
The UK government have issued a statement on the proposal. The statement rejects the economic case for the lagoon in meeting energy needs at a cost effective price. Further details here
|
|
Wales Nature Week 2 -10 June 2018
A huge thanks to everyone involved in making Wales Nature Week a success! Without your support and the participation of the public we couldn't make it happen.
Dates for the 2019 Nature Week celebration will be released soon.
|
|
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 are 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.
|
|
Seasearch Wales Marine Survey Report 2017
|
|
|
Seasearch have produced a summary report of the marine sites surveyed and identifies rare or unusual species and habitat encountered in Wales during 2017. These include a number of priority habitat and species in Wales. This report does not include all of the detailed data as this has been entered into the Marine Recorder database and supplied to Natural Resources Wales for use in its marine conservation activities. The species data is also available online through the National Biodiversity Network.
Text adapted from Seasearch source
Image © Kate Lock Seasearch
|
|
Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment- Carmarthensire County Council wins prestigious award
|
|
|
A big congratulations to Carmarthenshire County Council for their success at the national RTPI Planning Awards. The Caeau Mynydd Mawr SPG and Marsh Fritillary Project won the coveted 'Excellence in Planning in the Natural Environment' award category. You can read more about the project (page 16) on the RTPI website along with other examples where planning has contributed to the environment and health and well being.
|
|
Saturday 7th July is National Meadows Day!
Wales is joining in the celebrations with the following events:
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is celebrating the fantastic hay meadows on site
Magic Meadows at a wet meadow near Dolanog, Montgomeryshire
BeeFest at Bodnant Garden
Wildflower Meadow Walk at Dr. Beynon’s Bug Farm, St Davids, Pembrokeshire
National Meadows Day at Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
National Meadows Day at Chirk Castle
National Meadows Open Day, Gerddi Bro Ddyfi Gardens, Powys
You can view all events on the National Meadows Day website
|
|
Chris Packham’s UK Bioblitz 2018
Nature Reserves Are Not Enough! 14th – 23rd July- Wales' Bioblitz(s) 20th & 21st July
Chris Packham's Bioblitz is coming to Wales! For ten days Chris and his team of experts will be visiting 50 wildlife sites in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales to highlight the extent to which the nation’s wildlife is under threat.
The Bioblitz campaign has a scientific purpose with the results of this 2018 audit will be recorded to create a benchmark; this will help measure the rise and fall in numbers of different species in the future.
RSPB Swift Survey
The purpose of this survey is to record locations of swift nest sites around the UK. This information can then be used by local authority planners, architects, ecologists and developers to find out where swift hotspots are located around the country and therefore mitigate to protect breeding swifts during building development.
In Glamorgan, Alan Rosney, Glamorgan Swift Project Co-ordinator has initiated swift projects with partners to erect swift towers in church towers and other suitable locations. Look out for the new swift tower if you are walking or cycling along the Cardiff Bay barrage this summer!
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.
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
The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS)
The PoMS seeks the help of volunteers to collect data on pollinating insects, to help inform their conservation. There are two ways to get involved. One is to carry out a 10-minute Flower-Insect Timed Count. Anyone can take part between April and September, at any location where there are flowers and insects, and a full survey guide is provided.
A smaller group of volunteers is required to help with the systematic surveying of random sites across England, Scotland and Wales. This involves ‘adopting’ a 1km survey square, meeting on site with a PoMS team member and visiting the square on three further occasions during summer to collect insects with water-filled pan traps.
If you'd like to volunteer please email poms@ceh.ac.uk and visit the website for more details, including short videos introducing the two PoMS surveys
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.
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.
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
|
|
National Development Framework: Issues, options and preferred option
Welsh Government want your views on the next stage of the development of the National Development Framework (NDF).
Consultation link
Consultation closing date:23 July
Environmental Principles and Governance after EU Exit
Defra are seeking views on the Environmental Principles and Governance after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
Note: While this consultation relates only to environmental governance in England, Defra are working closely with the devolved administrations on common frameworks post EU. This consultation does not pre-judge any of these discussions
Consultation link
Consultation closing date:2 August
|
|
Vacancy
Marine Conservation Society Policy and Advocacy Manager (Wales)
Fixed-term maternity cover
Further details
Deadline 16th July
|
|
Species of the Month: Swift Apus apus
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
Swifts are sometimes mistaken for the smaller Swallow. They are similar in shape in flight, being rather streamline and with a forked tail. However, Swifts are altogether stockier with longer, sickle-shaped wings.
They are summer visitors, arriving in Britain in May to breed and departing again for their African wintering grounds in August. Along with cuckoo they are one of our shortest staying summer visitors!
Swifts are generally found nesting in holes and cavities in the roofs of older buildings in large villages, towns and cities. Their numbers have declined by over 25% in the past decade due lack of nesting sites as older buildings are either renovated or knocked down.
For more information about Swifts, see the BTO’s BirdFacts and Wider Countryside Report.
Did you know Swift is amber listed in the most recent assessment of UK Birds of Conservation Concern and has declined by 59% in Wales between 1995-2015.
Text modified from BTO source
Swift @ BTO
|
|
|
Helping Nature Work For Your Community
Could your community benefit more from the natural environment? Or do you have an environmental project that needs more funds and support? These free WCVA events will be invaluable to community groups across Wales.
|
|
National Development Framework Consultation
Webinar 2 July 2018 at 2pm
National Meadows Day 7th July
Events across Wales- see website
Big Butterfly Count
20 July – 12 August
Further details
Pollinator Festival
27th - 29th July
The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne
Find out more about pollinator conservation in Wales and how your own garden can give pollinators a helping hand through an array of stands, talks and guided walks
Further details
|
Wales Biodiversity Partnership Conference
19-20 September, National Museum, Cardiff
Further details
CIEEM Welsh Conference 2018
Recovering Nature: Approaches to species reintroduction and rewilding
Diary Date: 16 October
Park Inn Cardiff
Further details
|
|
Funding
NRW Funding Newsletter
Current funding update compiled by Natural Resources Wales and available on the NRW 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.
Deadline: 26 July 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
|
|
|
|
|
