Environment - conservation and management

We want to protect and enhance the Welsh environment so that it can continue to provide us with good quality air, water, soil, landscapes and biodiversity. We all need to rethink the way we view, protect and manage the Welsh environment.

Our new approach to managing our environment

Living Wales sets out our new framework for how we need to manage our environment. It’s about making the health and quality of our natural environment a focus for everyone and a key part of decision making.

Our natural and man-made environment is exceptionally rich and diverse. If it’s managed well it provides great opportunities for social enterprise, tourism and active recreation.

Improving access to the countryside  

In Wales, there are around 33,000 km of public rights of way. These used to be mainly as access routes for local people, but many now use them for recreation. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 protects these rights and we want people to make the most of the countryside.

Managing our forestry

Forestry Commission Wales acts as the Department of Forestry, looking after Welsh Government owned woodland. It follows Woodlands for Wales, our strategy for managing our forestry.

Protecting our seas and fish

We are responsible for ensuring that:

• fish health and welfare is monitored;
• legislation for sea and inland fisheries is implemented correctly;
• Welsh fishing interests are protected and promoted.

We are working to support and encourage commercial and recreational fishing in Wales. This is being done with other Government agencies.

Sustainable agricultural practices

Wales faces new challenges and opportunities. As a result farmers need a sustainable land management scheme that means they can respond to any changing demands.

Glastir, the land management scheme for the coming decade must respond to the challenges set out in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Health Check Agenda. These challenges include climate change, carbon capture, water management and biodiversity. They will form the basis of land management schemes across Europe from 2014.

Taking action to protect and enhance biodiversity

We are members, with other public and private sector bodies, of the Wales Biodiversity Partnership. This partnership advises us on action to maintain and enhance biodiversity.  

This includes evaluating the impact of invasive and non-native species, and where appropriate developing plans for how to manage them.