Introduction to South East Wales Area Statement
Image by Fen Turner
These Area Statements summarise discussions from the last couple of years. We are continuing engagement on Area Statements and are adapting our plans for future events and workshops due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please use the feedback boxes on each Area Statement page to find out more.
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Ecosystems are becoming less resilient and less able to adapt to challenges such as climate change. This means they are less able to provide the benefits that contribute towards maintaining health and well-being. The natural environment must be managed sustainably and recognised for the benefits it provides in the face of increasing urbanisation, development pressures, constrained public resources and changing demographics.
The 'Linking Our Landscapes' themed network has explored two significant and interconnected strands of work: reversing the decline in biodiversity by developing ecological networks, and considering how and where our natural assets can be used to deliver preventative, cost-effective and long-term nature-based solutions to some of our most complex social, economic and cultural well-being needs.
Through working in an integrated way to better understand these two significant areas of work and through the meaningful involvement of wider stakeholders, the 'Linking Our Landscapes' themed network has identified key risks to ecosystem resilience. Ecosystem resilience relates to diversity, condition, extent and connectivity, all of which combine and contribute in various ways to the overall health and adaptability of any particular ecosystem (its resilience). The key risks to the health of our ecosystems have been identified as climate change, habitat loss and degradation, excessive nutrient load and other forms of pollution, Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS), over exploitation and unsustainable use.
Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are defined by IUCN as
“actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits”
What success looks like | The vision for South East |
---|---|
Natural resources are not continuously declining and are not being used faster than they can be replenished |
Our water is clean, our soils are healthy, our air is fresh and our landscapes are living. Nature is valued and biodiversity enhancements are embedded in decision-making. Our habitats and species are thriving, biodiversity is maximised and wildlife is abundant |
The health and resilience of our ecosystems across the four attributes of ecosystem resilience is not being compromised and where there is a need, is being enhanced |
Our ecosystems are resilient to change and threat. Partners work collaboratively to address the five drivers of biodiversity loss at the regional scale (habitat loss and degradation, climate change, excessive nutrient load and other forms of pollution, Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and over-exploitation and unsustainable use) by identifying the root cause of issues and taking collaborative, preventative approaches towards reducing their impact on species, habitats and people. Nature based solutions are effectively and efficiently reducing the pressure on our assets and services (e.g. grey infrastructure such as sewerage network, flood risk assets and emergency services) |
Natural resources are being used efficiently and the supply of different ecosystem services is being optimised for well-being |
The natural environment provides employment which sustains communities across Gwent. Employment in the farming, forestry, fisheries, tourism and recreation industries is thriving and sustainable |
The benefits derived from natural resources are being fairly and equitably distributed and the contribution they make to well-being is meeting our basic needs and is not declining now or in the long term |
A resilient Wales: The wildlife, habitats, landscapes and seascapes of Gwent are a source of inspiration and enjoyment for people who live and work here. They are healthy and thriving, providing essential natural benefits to the residents and visitors to the region |
Image by Rob Bacon
For the 'Linking our Landscapes' theme, we began by looking at Gwent as a collection of distinctive and interconnected geographical landscapes. This approach was developed collaboratively with key stakeholders who have significant experience of looking at the region in this way.
Landscape panels were formed of spatial and technical specialists in each landscape area who worked collaboratively to look at eight ecosystems (UK broad habitats), as defined by the National Ecosystem Assessment and used in the State of Natural Resources Report. This approach provided us with a framework for looking at all the natural resource information for an ecosystem or broad habitat as a cohesive whole.
The landscape panel approach drew on the technical and spatial expertise of existing partnerships in South East including; the Gwent Green Grid Partnership, the Resilient Greater Gwent Partnership (through the State of Nature and Nature Recovery Action Plan for Gwent), the Living Levels Partnership, the South East Wales Resilient Uplands Partnership and Wye Valley AONB Partnership.
Each of the panels worked together to produce a set of landscape profiles, the purpose of which was to consider the resilience of the broad habitats in South East and how they interact at a landscape scale. The landscape profiles “describe the natural resources in the area” and should be referred to and read in conjunction with this Area Statement.
The landscape profiles were invaluable in forming the basis for further discussions under 'Linking Our Landscapes', 'Climate Ready Gwent' and 'Healthy Active Connected', in which a consensus for collaborative action was reached.
The outcomes under each of the four strategic themes will deliver the Area Statement vision for South East. While each theme has its own vision for South East, each is part of the same overarching approach to delivering the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) in place.
The South East Area Statement is representative of more collaborative, integrated and involved ways of working. It is a representation of the work we have done in Gwent over the past two years to strengthen the ways we work together differently within our own organisations and as partners.
In South East, we set out to produce an Area Statement which informs internal and external planning at the appropriate scale and helps stakeholders to consider ways of working together differently when doing so. The Area Statement process is adaptive and will help to explore and shape aspirational ways of working.
Themed networks will continue to focus on working together differently to build ecosystem resilience. Each network will work together to develop a common evidence base as well as facilitate preventative interventions over the longer term.
If you would like to get involved in the delivery of the actions listed here, contribute to the developing themed network, or share your own images and stories of how you have been able to make better places for nature please contact us.
Please note that our maps are not accessible for people using screen readers and other assistive technology. If you need this information in an accessible format, please contact us.
Broad habitats - South East Wales (PDF)
Statutory Designations - South East Wales (PDF)