Ferswin Gymraeg ar gael yma.
2023 saw the publication of the State of Nature 2023 report, revealing the devastating scale of loss and the urgent action needed to save nature across Wales. Despite the stark figures, we have never had a better understanding of the state of nature across Wales and what is needed to fix it. As we start the new year, here are some things we at RSPB Cymru are hoping for.
People to carry on discovering, connecting with and loving the nature around them.
The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way to start, by spending an hour recording the birds you see in your garden, school or local park. Last year 26,206 people took part across Wales, returning 15,325 surveys, watching a whopping 513,485 birds! This year we’re back for our 45th year and we’re asking people to once again play their part in protecting our garden birds for generations to come. Find out more here.
Nature to be a priority for our political leaders.
We’re entering 2024 in the midst of a race between two candidates to become the next Welsh Labour leader and the likely next First Minister of Wales. We will be letting the two candidates – Vaughan Gething MS and Jeremy Miles MS – know that we want restoring Wales’ nature to be among their top priorities. Why not do the same?
Sometime later in the year we expect a UK General Election – in Wales and the rest of the UK we will be voting for the MPs who will represent us at Westminster – and we will be asking our supporters to help us show all political parties that they need to commit to stepping up for nature.
New policies to drive nature’s restoration and recovery.
The Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme, which is currently being consulted on, is an unique opportunity to help farmers produce food sustainably while tackling the nature and climate emergency. What’s proposed in the consultation represents a good start but it’s crucial that all elements of the scheme are up and running as soon as possible and are adequately funded, if it is to support farmers to take actions to stop further losses and start to restore biodiversity to our landscapes. What happens this year could make all the difference and we’ll be working to make sure that RSPB Cymru and our supporters’ voices are heard.
We are also looking forward to the Welsh Government’s promised Nature Positive White Paper at the end of January. This will set out proposals to create a new, independent environmental watchdog for Wales, and to introduce a framework of legally binding targets for nature recovery. We need this to make sure that all government departments and all sectors play their part in ensuring Wales delivers its international commitment to stop and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and see recovery by 2050. We will be sharing more information about the consultation in the coming months.
In the run up to COP15 where the new Global Biodiversity Framework was agreed, the Welsh Government undertook a deep dive into what it would take for Wales to meet the global target to protect and effectively manage 30% of land and seas for nature by 2030. Improving the condition of existing protected sites and designating new ones, as well as enhancing connectedness by managing and restoring habitats beyond their boundaries, is an essential step towards meeting the ‘30 by 30’ target, and we will carry on working with the Welsh Government and others this year to see delivery of these commitments.
Wales has the world’s largest population of Manx Shearwater, and the third largest colony of Northern Gannets. The relative importance of Wales’ populations of Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots is increasing in the face of major declines seen in other parts of the UK, particularly Scotland and northern England. There are limited places where these birds can breed, making it vitally important we protect those places properly. We will continue to push this year for the introduction of a new marine development plan, a seabird conservation strategy and the adoption of remote electronic monitoring on fishing vessels, to make sure we are properly looking after our amazing marine wildlife.
The Welsh Government is considering the development of a Nature Service Wales to support green skills development and provide employment opportunities in nature across Wales. A pilot would showcase how investment in nature can help support local communities while restoring the natural environment on which we all depend. Investing in a Nature Service Wales will provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities in nature conservation and restoration. It could create 7,000 nature-based jobs over the next decade. Let’s hope that 2024 is the year in which our politicians commit to funding its development.
Action for nature in communities and green spaces across Wales
Working to influence laws and policies to improve nature’s prospects goes hand in hand with our ongoing work on the ground to secure a brighter future for nature on our RSPB reserves and partnership projects, like the Celtic Rainforests and Curlew LIFE projects as well as our work to restore the blanket bog at Lake Vyrnwy. We’re also looking forward to seeing how Save Our Wild Isles funded projects, such as ‘Nature Neighbourhoods’, develop and which have the potential to make a real, lasting difference for nature through community collaboration in Newport, Neyland and Pwllheli. The calls to action set out by the People’s Plan for Nature continue to resonate too, with People’s Plan champions spreading the word in our communities, businesses and to Welsh Government.