Innovative approaches key to uplands future

Its seven month inquiry found that research and investment in services such as carbon management, clean water, flood protection and renewable energy, alongside more established industries such as tourism and farming would protect, preserve and help the area sustain itself and Wales as a whole.

The committee says it is also keen to see a change to the established view of the uplands as a physical barrier in the heart of Wales.

Instead it believes the uplands should be a resource pool on which the whole of Wales can draw not only for food and recreation, but also clean water, clean air, clean energy and much more.

“This report demonstrates that the uplands have a central role to play in answering several of the great challenges that our society currently faces, including food security, carbon reduction, biodiversity protection and flood alleviation,” says committee chairman and AM, Rhodri Glyn Thomas.

“Farming will continue to play a central role in the upland economy, but in order to keep farmers – and especially young farmers – in the uplands, we need to identify new sources of income for them and encouraging the provision of new environmental services is a key way of doing that.

“Another key aspect is for the Welsh Assembly Government to work with its partners towards a joint vision for the uplands ─ something that does not exist as the moment.”

Among the 23 recommendations are:

• Ensuring food production in the uplands complements the provision of other services and plays a positive role in enhancing the upland environment.
• Making research into carbon management through land use a priority area for research funding, and to learn from best practice and innovative practices in other countries.
• WAG should ensure that projects aimed at renewable energy generation and carbon or water management achieve multiple outcomes including contributing to biodiversity enhancement.
• WAG should continue working towards ensuring there are minimum changes to the Welsh LFA area. In the meantime, the Minister should prepare transitionary support for any areas that do lose out as a result of the boundary changes.
• Working with CCW and local authorities, WAG should establish local cross-cutting initiatives based on the Cambrian Mountains Initiative model across all areas of the Welsh uplands not designated as National Parks or AONBs.
• WAG should bring forward proposals for the full implementation of the Commons Act without further delay, and for Part 2 of the Act to be in force before the new Glastir scheme comes into operation.

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