Here RSPB Cymru Director Katie-jo Luxton shares her thoughts about the Welsh Government’s new Natural Environment Framework Green paper.
Two weeks ago I attended the launch of the Welsh Government’s new Green Paper – Sustaining a Living Wales, which sets out the government’s new approach to environmental management.
At the launch I heard about the Welsh Governments aspirations for an “ecosystem’s approach” to managing the environment and natural resources in Wales. In a nutshell, this involves an integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes nature conservation and sustainable use in a fair way.
I welcome the government’s aspiration to approach the management of the natural environment in a new way and would urge the government to ensure that delivering for Welsh wildlife is central to this ambition.
We are supportive of this new framework, but the next step is for government to set out how it will improve the delivery of nature conservation in order to halt and reverse the declines in Wales’ biodiversity – something that is fundamental if we are to see healthy, resilient ecosystems restored to Wales.
The approach needs to include a set of measurable outcomes for wildlife in Wales that will help us to focus on the right actions.
We will shortly be asking for your help in calling on the Welsh Government to ensure its new approach delivers for wildlife. So please watch this space!
Katie-Jo Luxton, RSPB Cymru Director