Latest news with #NatureNetworksFund
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Blaenau Gwent Council awarded £250,000 for nature project
The Nature Networks Fund has given the grant to Blaenau Gwent Council to help understand the value and connectivity of ecosystems across Gwent. The project will explore the benefits these ecosystems provide for both people and nature. The Nature Networks Fund is a collaborative programme between The Heritage Fund, Welsh Government, and Natural Resources Wales, set up to address ecological challenges. In partnership with Natural Resources Wales and other regional organisations, the council will create plans for resilient ecological networks. These plans will guide habitat improvements, nature recovery actions, and highlight the importance of environmental wellbeing. Helen Cunningham, cabinet member for place and environment, said: "We are committed to tackling the climate and nature emergencies declared by the council. "This support from the Nature Networks Fund, distributed by the Heritage Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales, will enable us to work in partnership to make positive changes for people and nature here in Blaenau Gwent and across the region." Steve Morgan, head of southeast Wales operations at Natural Resources Wales, said: "This project will enable us to achieve significant acceleration towards building ecosystem resilience through a Resilient Ecological Networks (RENs) approach across Gwent, helping us better understand and maximise the fundamental role and value of nature and ecosystem services that underpin our wellbeing, prosperity, culture, and identity across our distinct landscapes and habitats. "The project also highlights the commitment in Gwent to working collaboratively and in partnership to support nature's recovery, contributing towards meeting our Corporate Plan Vision and Wellbeing Goals where biodiversity is protected, valued, restored, and wisely used so that nature and people genuinely thrive together in a way that is sustainable for future generations. "I look forward to seeing the successful progress of this project as it develops in contribution to our collective efforts in taking urgent action to halt and reverse the decline in biodiversity at the pace and scale needed, building ecosystem resilience as a nature-based solutions approach to climate change and pollution, as well as enhancing opportunities and benefits for the health, wellbeing, and resilience of nature and people equitably and inclusively in Gwent." The Nature Networks Fund aims to strengthen the resilience of Wales's network of protected land and marine sites, supporting nature's recovery while actively encouraging community engagement. Improving the condition of these protected and connected sites will enable them to function better as nature networks. Nature networks are vital, resilient areas where habitats and species can thrive and expand. Restoring connectivity in these networks will prevent further declines in species and habitat condition, support nature recovery, and enhance capacity to adapt to the climate crisis. This fund will also support the active involvement of communities in and around protected sites. Strengthening engagement with nature has direct health and wellbeing benefits for people, as well as improving the resilience of the sites themselves. The protected sites network covers Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, and other Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). For further information about protected areas of land and sea, visit the Natural Resources Wales website.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Dolphin 'mysteries' to be solved by collecting poo
Conservationists are hoping to learn about a group of bottlenose dolphins that make their home in Welsh waters - by studying their poo. About 200 bottlenose dolphins are said to live in and around Cardigan Bay and, although they have been studied for several years, experts want to learn more about their relationships, breeding potential and movement patterns. Analysis of samples will help them to understand what they have been feeding on and where and help build individual profiles for each dolphin. They will also attempt to match the samples with photo identification records of the dolphins gathered on camera by members of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Surfing snake spotted on north Wales beach Bottlenose dolphins spotted killing dolphin juvenile 'I heard someone say shark and thought it's a hoax' The trust secured funding for the project from the Welsh government's Nature Networks Fund in collaboration with Aberystwyth University. The samples will be gathered by net after the dolphins defecate and then analysed by university scientists using techniques to extract detailed data about the animals' diet using environmental DNA (eDNA). Sarah Perry, the trust's marine conservation and research manager, said she hoped the study would "unravel the mysteries of bottlenose dolphin ecology in Cardigan Bay". "This project covers an area of research that we have aspired to embark on over the past decade or so and we are excited that it has come to fruition at a time when it is even more important that we build on our knowledge of the species in the waters around us." Dolphin calf rescued in New Quay Concerns over sudden drop in sightings of porpoises Aberystwyth University: Department of Life Sciences Sea Watch Foundation: Cardiff Bay bottlenose dolphins Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Cardigan Bay bottlenose dolphin mysteries to be solved by collecting poo
Conservationists are hoping to learn about a group of bottlenose dolphins that make their home in Welsh waters - by studying their 200 bottlenose dolphins are said to live in and around Cardigan Bay and, although they have been studied for several years, experts want to learn more about their relationships, breeding potential and movement of samples will help them to understand what they have been feeding on and where and help build individual profiles for each will also attempt to match the samples with photo identification records of the dolphins gathered on camera by members of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. The trust secured funding for the project from the Welsh government's Nature Networks Fund in collaboration with Aberystwyth samples will be gathered by net after the dolphins defecate and then analysed by university scientists using techniques to extract detailed data about the animals' diet using environmental DNA (eDNA).Sarah Perry, the trust's marine conservation and research manager, said she hoped the study would "unravel the mysteries of bottlenose dolphin ecology in Cardigan Bay"."This project covers an area of research that we have aspired to embark on over the past decade or so and we are excited that it has come to fruition at a time when it is even more important that we build on our knowledge of the species in the waters around us."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Welsh Labour spends £250,000 on moth-counting project
The Labour-run Welsh Government has come under attack for spending almost £250,000 on a project to count moths. The two-year project, called Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn, will survey the moth population living in limestone habitats on the Creuddyn peninsula in the north of the country. The programme, being delivered by the Heritage Fund, was given a £248,348 grant last February from the Government's Nature Networks Fund and will involve working with schools. The Welsh Government said the collaborative initiative would help protect rare and at-risk invertebrates such as the micro-moth, which measures about 2cm in diameter. But councillors have described it as a misuse of funds at a time when budgets for public services are being tightened. Louise Emery, a Conservative councillor in Llandudno, told Wales Online: 'Whilst local authority budgets are really being squeezed, the Welsh Government finds money for projects such as Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn. 'On its own merit, in its own little world, I can see some benefit to that, but in the grand financial picture of what local authorities are facing, I find it incredible that they can find money for a project like this but we can't find money for basic public amenities such as toilets, or looking after our parks and gardens or highways.' Cllr Emery also drew attention to the issue at a conference organised by the Welsh Conservatives, saying: 'It is always about priorities. 'So we need to say as the Welsh Conservatives, who will be in power in 2027, that we need to focus on the absolute basics of what we do at local authorities: collect the bins, educate your children and look after your vulnerable, and fix your highways.' A Welsh Government spokesman said: 'The Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn project was awarded £248,348 as part of the Nature Networks Fund in February 2024. It is a collaborative initiative led by Conwy county borough council in partnership with Natural Resources Wales and Butterfly Conservation. 'The project is carrying out surveys, and protecting rare and at-risk invertebrates such as the micro-moth, which has been found in abundance in its only known Welsh habitat. This work will inform future habitat management and conservation strategies.' The project also found 1,109 caterpillars of the horehound plume moth on the Great Orme in Llandudno last year. Sion Dafis, the project manager, said at the time: 'This project will provide an interesting picture of invertebrate life in the area, and we want to involve the local community in making their own discoveries and raise awareness of the need to conserve habitats.' Charlie McCoubrey, the leader of Conwy council, said: 'This is a grant-funded project. It's important to note that grant funding is for specific projects and cannot be spent on other services. Whilst grant funding is available, we will continue to apply for it.' The funding comes at a period of heightened scrutiny over Welsh Labour's policy decisions, which have often proved to be controversial. The Government has faced intense criticism for its blanket 20mph speed limits, which were reduced from 30mph. A petition against the limits on the Welsh Government's website gained almost half a million signatures – the largest recorded there – and forced Lee Waters, the devolved minister behind the policy, to step down from his front-bench post. On Wednesday, Jane Hutt, Welsh Labour's chief whip, prompted further accusations of a 'war on motorists' when she suggested the Government would be open to reducing some speed limits to as low as 5mph. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
North Wales Live
20-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
Welsh Government's £250K grant to 'count moths on the Great Orme is crazy'
A Llandudno councillor described the spending of £250,000 of taxpayers' money on 'counting the number of moths on the Great Orme' as 'crazy'. Speaking at a Conservative Party conference in Llangollen last week, Cllr Louise Emery raised the issue of a grant paid by Welsh Government to Conwy County Council. The 'Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn' is a two-year project focussing on invertebrates associated with limestone habitats on the Creuddyn peninsula. Delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government, the project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme and involves working with schools and the community for the benefit of invertebrates. Cllr Emery, though, believed Welsh Government money could be better allocated to councils at a time when many local authorities are struggling to make ends meet and cutting front-line services. "We are seeing a lack of investment in roads, and it is priorities. The worst one I've heard of is £250,000 counting the number of moths on the Great Orme – crazy!' she said at the conference. 'So there is money. It is always about priorities. So we need to say as the Welsh Conservatives, who will be in power in 2027, that we need to focus on the absolute basics of what we do at local authorities: collect the bins, educate your children, and look after your vulnerable, and fix your highways, essentially." Speaking later, Cllr Emery elaborated on the comments made at the political conference, explaining it was Welsh Government who allocated the funds spent on the project. 'My point I was making at the Conservative conference was about priorities and that there is money available from Welsh Government but only for certain things, so whilst local authority budgets are really being squeezed, Welsh Government finds money for projects such as the Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn,' she said. 'On its own merit, in its own little world, I can see some benefit to that, but in the grand financial picture of what local authorities are facing, I find it incredulous that they can find money for a project like this, but we can't find money for basic public amenities such as toilets or looking after our parks and gardens or highways. "So it's not that I'm against the project in itself, but it is a priority where you allocate money to. This is not Conwy revenue money. I was saying there is grant money available, which I think should be prioritised, supporting local authorities properly.' A Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'The Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn project was awarded £248,348 as part of the Nature Networks Fund in February 2024. It is a collaborative initiative led by Conwy County Borough Council in partnership with Natural Resources Wales and Butterfly Conservation. 'The project is carrying out surveys and protecting rare and at-risk invertebrate such as the micro-moth, measuring about 2cm across which has been found in abundance in its only known Welsh Habitat. This work will inform future habitat management and conservation strategies." Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, council leader said: 'This is a grant-funded project. It's important to note that grant funding is for specific projects and cannot be spent on other services. Whilst grant funding is available, we will continue to apply for it.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter
