In 2022 we witnessed first-hand the impacts of a warming world on nature in the UK, with devastating wildfires and extended periods of drought putting nature under increasing pressure. Research also revealed that global wildlife populations had seen a catastrophic 69% drop on average since 1970. In 2023, action to restore our natural world will be more urgent than ever.

Last year, the UK Government’s ‘Bulldozer Bill’ – officially called the Retained EU Law Bill – was introduced and is still hurtling its way through the UK Parliament. It threatens to rip up over a thousand laws protecting the environment, including laws that affect Wales. This needs to be stopped as it will not only mean losing protection for nature but will take up all of the Welsh Governments’ time, halting any progress on the ten points below.

In 2022 Welsh Government committed to a range of new environmental legislation, most noticeably a ban on Single Use Plastics and an international agreement at the UN Nature Conference COP15 in December. With less than seven years to meet their target to restore nature by 2030, Welsh Government’s New Year’s resolution must be to increase resources to accelerate action to restore nature.  In doing so, it is not just nature that will reap the benefits. Our health gets a boost too through cleaner air and water and neighbourhoods enjoying access to natural green space.

In 2023, The Wildlife Trusts in Wales will call on the Welsh Government to ensure that nature is able to recover by:

1. Setting a clear plan to restore at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. Welsh Government has consulted all partners through the Biodiversity Deep Dive process. This sets out what we need to achieve 30x30 in Wales. But with only 5% of land and 4% of our seas effectively managed for nature, time is against us. Wales SSSIs, our best sites for nature, cover 10% of Wales, but 80% are in poor condition; their restoration must be a priority along with the designation of further SSSI’s. Achieving the same in our seas is covered in point 7 below.
2. An Environment Governance Bill - Although Wales has some of the world’s most progressive environmental legislation, there are key gaps. New legislation is needed to set legally binding targets for nature’s recovery. Wales doesn’t have a permanent office to investigate breaches in environmental legislation, such as the Office of Environment Protection in England. We also need further regulation to address water pollution issues, such as new Civil Sanctions (penalties for polluters) and National Minimum Standards to provide a clear regulatory baseline for all farmers in Wales.
3. Scrapping the UK Governments Retained EU Law Bill – This UK Parliaments Bill, scheduled to be debated by MPs early in the new year, threatens to wipe away thousands of crucial laws protecting wildlife by the end of 2023. The UK Government must bin this Bill to stop the attack on nature.
4. New farm schemes that delivers nature’s recovery -  the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) needs to reward farmers for benefits to society through payments to help Wales adapt to climate change and to tackle the nature crisis. The Wildlife Trusts in Wales want to see a clear departure from the old agri-environment schemes and more generous support to restore nature, reduce pesticide use, and store water and carbon. Piloting the SFS in 2023 will help inform and demonstrate regenerative farming practices.
5. Taking urgent action on SSSI management and river pollution – We need to protect wildlife and clean up the rivers in Wales. Only 20% of our SSSI, our best sites for nature in Wales, are in good condition. Nature in our rivers is being choked by excess phosphate, causing algal ‘pea soups’. Tackling agricultural pollution, which accounts for 60% of some rivers failing ecological standards, should be prioritised alongside an ongoing focus on water industry pollution. Welsh Government have agreed to an international target to reduce nitrates use by 50% by 2030.
6. Need enforcement of environmental legislation - Even if we have legislation to stop damaging activity without enforcement, then it is all meaningless. We need investment now and a re-focusing of efforts by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the body responsible for environmental enforcement. We need more effective monitoring, advice, investment in farm infrastructure and prosecution of serious or repeat offenders. To achieve this NRW needs more resources to enable a pollution prevention team similar to the Scottish model that has over 90% compliance rate.
7. Actively managing Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) - Designating 10% of our MPA’s as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) (no extractive works) and 10% as fully protected MPAs (no activity except for research). This along with finishing designating further offshore Marine Conservation Zones will give vital levels of protection to allow nature to recover fully at sea. However, these sites need active management, starting with stopping damaging fishing activity. The Fishing Gear Assessments are the tool, but these have been delayed by 12 years. We also need to set a presumption against the development of offshore wind farms in designated sites. Although renewable energy is an essential part of the action needed to combat climate change, offshore wind has a huge impact on sea life, marine habitats and the blue carbon they store.
8. Ban the import and sale of peat products and stop burning peatlands - Although Welsh Government have agreed on this, the time scales haven’t been set, and we need this to happen by the end of the year. The Wildlife Trusts want to see a full retail ban on the sale of bagged peat compost. Peatlands are critical in our fight against climate change and will assist in flood alleviation, so we must protect and manage all of our peat. To date, Welsh Government have committed to restoring 50% by 2030; let’s set a higher bar of restoring all peatlands.
9. Reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030 - Pesticides designed to kill insects are now everywhere in our lives, in our gardens, streets, parks and farmland. Insects form the basis of food webs for wildlife, so no insects, no nature. Wales has recognised an international target to reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030, and this is a key ask by young people in COP15 Youth Manifesto. So Wales needs to significantly reduce their use in our homes and in public spaces. There are alternatives, and cities like Paris have shown how this can be achieved. Integrated Pest Management can drastically reduce the need for damaging and expensive pesticides on our farmland
10. New policies to address climate change - Welsh Government have set themselves an admirable task of reaching Net Zero before the official target of 2050. England is developing National Adaptation Plans; Wales needs the same. These plans examine a wide range of adaptations needed, including how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be developed in Wales. These include restoring wildlife habitats to store carbon and water, planting trees, especially in urban areas (providing shade and capturing flash floods) and restoring carbon stores in our seas.