Welsh Government debate on the future Wales’ National Parks

Wales’ National Parks are under threat.

A Welsh Government report by the Future Landscapes Working Group on the future of designated landscapes in Wales undermines the status of National Parks as Protected Landscapes. The draft Future Landscape Wales report fails to mention a basic principle of conservation (the Sandford Principle) that would be an ultimate safeguard for natural beauty and biodiversity and potentially opens the door to unfettered development within National Parks and AONBs.

The report is due to be debated in the Senedd tomorrow, 6th June. The Alliance for National Parks (Cymru) – representing the three National Parks in Wales – has sent a letter to all AMs urging them to defend National Parks in Wales, to ensure that the Sandford Principle continues to be applied and to use the Marsden Report on Designated Landscapes – which was commissioned by the Welsh Government earlier – as a starting point for any decisions on the future of National Parks and AONBS. Finally, AMs are being asked to ensure that any changes to the status of National Parks are subject to a full public consultation.

You can see the full letter to AMs here.

Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs at [email protected] and copy your message to the other party spokespeople for environment – Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru) [email protected] and  David Melding (Conservative) [email protected]

You can get the address of your AM by clicking here.

Thank you.

Jim Wilson
Chairman