News
Storm strandings
Many thanks.
Welsh Government further review of the exceptions to regulations regarding the maximum length of fishing boats in the 0-6 nautical mile zone
A consultation was undertaken in 2011/12 regarding proposals to remove historic access rights. A number of complex issues arose as a result of the responses received, and subsequent analysis of the same. The Minister for Natural Resources and Food has decided that a further period of consultation is needed to ensure that the Welsh Government has the fullest possible understanding of the current situation and the possible effects of the proposed removal of these historic access rights.
More information and the consultation document are available here.
Problems of Small Estuaries Symposium
A presentation on the EMS set the scene for many of the other contributions. All the presentations, including the EMS presentation, are available as PDFs here.
Countryside Council for Wales and Environment Agency Wales dissolved and work taken over by new body, Natural Resources Wales
Welsh government green paper Sustaining a Living Wales
The Welsh Government’s Green Paper on a new approach to natural resource management in Wales is open to consultation until 31 May 2012.
NATUR, the Welsh Institute of Countryside and Conservation Management, has been welcomed by the Natural Environment Framework team as a ‘critical friend’. Watch NATUR’s website for constructive criticism of the Green Paper.
Management Scheme consultation open
The Scheme document and supporting technical annexes can be downloaded here.
Three Rivers Cockle Fishery Closure
More here
Management Scheme consultation coming soon
Responses from the public, stakeholders, local communities and regulatory and management authorities will be invited and welcomed.
Please subscribe to the newsletter to ensure you are notified when the consultation draft is published.
New report on Special Areas of Conservation in Wales
Overall, on land and in the seas 27% of designated habitats and species within SAC are considered to be in favourable condition, with 11% in a process of recovery. But that leaves almost two thirds not doing well.  Within marine SACs, 80% of saltmarshes, 60% of intertidal sand and muflats and half of estuary and bays features are not in favourable condition or recovering towards it. Much more work is clearly needed to improve on this situation.
Hidden value of nature revealed
Many people may believe that caring for the environment means extra financial burdens, but the UK NEA shows that there are real economic reasons for looking after nature. It also shows that the benefits we get to our health, well being and from the enjoyment of nature have not always been fully appreciated or valued.
The assessment provides economic values for a range of services that the ecosystem gives us for free to help us fully understand the value of the natural environment and how the benefits to individuals and society as a whole can be better protected and preserved for future generations.
The UK NEA shows that the tendency to focus only on the market value of resources we can use and sell, such as timber, crops and fisheries, has led to the decline of some ecosystems and habitats through pollution, over-exploitation, and land conversion.