An overview of some of the priorities and opportunities for the Welsh marine and coastal environment, including what is set out in the marine area statement and more recent themes identified through the green recovery task force.
with
Kirsty Lindenbaum
Senior Specialist Advisor Marine, NRW
and
Peter Davies
Chair of Wales Marine Action and Advisory Group, Member of Green Recovery Task Force
QUESTION SUBMITTED LIVE:
Andrew Lewis:
Does the Marine Area Statement cover Welsh Waters or to 12nm?
Answer:
Out to 12 nm Andrew, thanks for the question
QUESTION SUBMITTED LIVE:
Kath Wellard:
For nature based solutions, how do we overcome the issues of VfM requirements for GiA for projects?
QUESTION SUBMITTED LIVE:
Kath Wellard:
Nature based solutions are often more expensive, require more maintenance or be replaced / 're-engineered' more often than 'traditional' defences. Capital grants are available for defences but maintenance budgets do not match requirements
Answer:
Hi Kath, there is a hot topic session at 12:00 tomorrow where we can have an active discussion on some of these things in further detail. Balancing costs and benefits, and maintaining nature-based solutions are absolutely recognised issues. We need to understand both better and explore wider funding options.
Reply - Nicky Rimington:
In answer to kath's excellent question about nature based solutions - balancing costs and benefits, and maintaining nature-based solutions are absolutely recognised issues. We need to understand both better and explore wider funding options
QUESTION SUBMITTED LIVE:
Kath Wellard:
are private sector stakeholders on the stakeholder groups? how do we get involved???
QUESTION SUBMITTED LIVE:
Clare Trotman:
Now that we are no longer a member of the EU, will there be a gap in funding for future NRW marine/coastal projects (which have typically relied on LIFE, EMFF, etc?)
Hi Clare - really important question, and I think there have been similar questions raised across today (day 1) - we have a slot tomorrow on funding and I am hopeful that a WG colleague will be joining as a delegate, and may be able to address some of these.
More information on the green recovery task force can be found here: https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/strategies-and-plans/green-recovery-supporting-the-environmental-sector-in-wales/?lang=en
@kirsty.lindenbaum we highly recommend adopting use of the evidence resources produced by Conservation Evidence https://www.conservationevidence.com/ . They summarise the global evidence base for actions that can be taken to enhance/protect different habitats and species. Marine is new on their agenda but a number of synopses are in prep: subtidal benthic inverts (1st edition just published), marine fish, marine mammals, wetlands (including saltmarsh as well as fresh), and our Ecostructure one on enhancing biodiversity on marine structures. It will be an invaluable resource to support evidence-based planning and decision-making. The Conservation Evidence project is run by the University of Cambridge. It's grant-funded so needs ongoing support to continue.