In 2021 the Senedd declared a ‘nature emergency’. This was in recognition of human-induced declines in biodiversity. The 2023 State of Nature Report highlights that 18% of 3,897 species assessed in Wales are threatened with extinction.
Pressures on biodiversity come from many sources, including urbanisation, pollution, hydrological change, certain agricultural and woodland management techniques and invasive non-native species.
Biodiversity has both intrinsic value and provides benefits to humans through ‘ecosystem services’ such as flood prevention and food production. Therefore biodiversity losses are thought to cause risks to human safety and well-being.
The Welsh Government has a role in restoring biodiversity to meet the global commitments of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and there are many policies and laws relating to biodiversity in Wales. Statutory biodiversity targets are under development to drive action and improve accountability.
Stakeholders are calling for improved designation, management and monitoring of protected sites, measures to control pollution, particularly into watercourses, and ambitious environmental options in the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Read our updated briefing to find out more about biodiversity, how it is being protected and what stakeholders are calling for.
Article by Matthias Noebels, Amandine Debus, Sara Moran and Katy Orford, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
Senedd Research acknowledges the parliamentary fellowships provided to Matthias Noebels by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and to Amandine Debus by the Natural Environment Research Council, which enabled this Research Briefing to be completed.
