Welsh Natural Sites and vital Wildlife habitats to receive nearly £10M in funding from Welsh Government

WALES’ protected natural sites and vital wildlife habitats are getting a nearly £10 million boost, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths has said today.

The funding will give a helping hand to some of Wales’ most loved species of animals and plants, as it seeks to support projects that improve Wales’ protected natural sites, from the Severn Estuary to the Llandegla Moors.

These sites are home to the iconic – such as otter, bottlenose dolphin and grey seal, alongside the obscure – such as the petalwort plant and whorl snails. They are also home to a wide range of birds, including the critically endangered Atlantic puffin.

National Heritage Memorial Fund will be administering the ‘Nature Networks Fund’, providing grants from £50,000 – £500,000 to projects that work within the borders of Wales’ protected natural sites.

The sites supported provide a vital sanctuary and high level of protection to nearly 70 species, and more than 50 types of habitats which face threats worldwide.

They also contribute significantly to the Welsh economy through tourism recreation, farming, fishing and forestry. And they provide vital life-support services for all of us – including purifying drinking water, and storing carbon.

The scheme will support actions such as woodland creation or felling; controlling invasive species; making water quality improvements through dredging or erosion control; restoring habitats; creation of green jobs and others.

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said:

“Wales along with the rest of the world faces a nature crisis, with the state of our wildlife and natural habitats declining, threatening extinction to some of our most iconic species.

“The funding Welsh Government has provided to the protected site network is a vital step in protecting and restoring these areas, and helping us to strengthen resilient ecological networks.

“This means we have a better chance to enjoy our wildlife and beautiful national parks today and into the future, which we know pays dividends for our mental wellbeing. It means that the services that nature provides us for which we all rely- such as clean water and air- are better protected. And it means we, and all living things in Wales, can build better resilience against climate change.

“Places such as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are hugely important to Wales’ wildlife and natural heritage.

“They are cornerstones of our nature recovery work, and protect the range, quality and variety of some of our most important species. I look forward to seeing the exciting projects that arise from the fund that in tandem with the other work Welsh Government is undertaking, builds a green and healthy recovery from coronavirus.”

Commenting on the announcement of the Nature Networks Fund, Andrew White – Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said:

“Protected sites play a vital role in reversing the effects of climate change and we’re thrilled to be working with the Welsh Government to support Wales’ green recovery through the Nature Networks Fund.

“The Nature Network Fund will also support communities in and around these sites to become involved in this crucial work. This will have direct benefits for health and wellbeing as well as improving the resilience of the sites.”

Although the Nature Networks Fund opens for applications on 12 April, details about the programme are now available on The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s website.

Between 12 April and 24 May, projects wanting grants of between £50,000 and £100,000 can submit their applications.

Projects interested in applying for grants of between £100,000 and £500,000 will need to make an expression of interest to The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales between 12 April and 30 April.

After this, groups who have passed the expression of interest stage will be invited to apply for a grant between 19 May and 30 June.

The Nature Networks Fund information can be viewed here: www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/application-guidance-nature-networks-fund

 

Contact Information

Dominique Lyons

Welsh Government

0300 0250 591

Dominique.Lyons@gov.wales

Notes to editors

IMAGES ATTACHED – Puffin on Skomer Island / Two horses (Sol and Flynn) clearing woodland at Craig Gwladus. This is a project that is being funded by the Community Woodlands grant programme, which is Welsh Government funded.

Protected sites are areas that are important from a natural or cultural perspective such as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The Severn Estuary is a Special Area of Conservation.
The Llandegla Moors are a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The protected sites network

The protected sites network covers Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas (formerly known as the Natura 2000 network) and other Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). To check whether land is included within this definition please visit the Natural Resources Wales website.What do we mean by ‘green recovery’?

reversing the decline in nature;
addressing the changing climate and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change;
tackling unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, through the circular economy;
economic recovery, through investment that supports job creation and new markets;
social recovery, by targeting action to those groups, communities and places that are most vulnerable, and/or have been hit hardest to address underlying inequalities and deprivation;
Through the Nature Networks Fund we want to fund:

Action that specifically benefits the management of protected habitats and species on Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and demonstrates the sustainable management of natural resources across Wales.
Improvements on protected sites that local communities are able to actively participate in, and benefit from. An aim would be to support active involvement with a diverse range of people and communities (particularly under-represented groups) to increase the network of people engaged with nature, and building the resilience of their local ecosystems.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Follow @HeritageFundCYM on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
For further information, please contact:

Iwan Rhys Roberts, Marketing and Communications Manager, The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales: iwan.rhys.roberts@heritagefund.org.uk 07547 408 191,

Downloads

Skomer-Puffin-National-Lottery-Heritage-Fund

Download

 

Puffin-3

Download

 

Sol and Flynn working

Download

24 Maw 2021

Hwb o £9.8 miliwn i fioamrywiaeth Cymru

Mi fydd Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig, Lesley Griffiths yn dweud heddiw bod safleoedd naturiol gwarchodedig a chynefinoedd bywyd gwyllt hanfodol Cymru yn cael hwb o bron i £10 miliwn.

Bydd y cyllid yn rhoi cymorth i rai o rywogaethau anifeiliaid a phlanhigion mwyaf poblogaidd Cymru trwy gefnogi prosiectau sy’n gwella safleoedd naturiol gwarchodedig Cymru – o Aber Hafren i Rostiroedd Llandegla.

Mae’r safleoedd hyn yn gartref i rywogaethau eiconig – fel y dyfrgi, y dolffin trwyn potel a’r morlo llwyd, ochr yn ochr â’r llai adnabyddus – fel y planhigyn petallys a’r falwoden troellen. Maent hefyd yn gartref i ystod eang o adar, gan gynnwys y pâl yr Iwerydd sydd mewn perygl difrifol.

Bydd Cronfa Goffa’r Dreftadaeth Genedlaethol yn gweinyddu’r Gronfa Rhwydweithau Natur gan ddarparu grantiau rhwng £50,000 – £500,000 i brosiectau sy’n gweithio o fewn ffiniau safleoedd naturiol gwarchodedig Cymru.

Mae’r safleoedd yma yn hanfodol bwysig ac yn darparu lefel uchel o ddiogelwch i bron i 70 o rywogaethau a mwy na 50 math o gynefin sy’n wynebu bygythiadau ledled y byd.

Maent hefyd yn cyfrannu’n sylweddol at economi Cymru trwy dwristiaeth hamdden, ffermio, pysgota a choedwigaeth. Ac maen nhw’n darparu gwasanaethau cynnal bywyd hanfodol i bob un ohonom – gan gynnwys puro dŵr yfed a storio carbon.

Bydd y cynllun Cronfa Rhwydweithiau Natur yn cefnogi gwaith fel creu neu gwympo coetiroedd; rheoli rhywogaethau goresgynnol; gwneud gwelliannau i ansawdd dŵr trwy garthu neu reoli erydiad; adfer cynefinoedd; creu swyddi gwyrdd ac eraill.

Dywedodd Lesley Griffiths, Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig:

“Mae Cymru â gweddill y byd yn wynebu argyfwng natur gyda chyflwr ein bywyd gwyllt a’n cynefinoedd naturiol yn dirywio gan fygwth difodiant i rai o’n rhywogaethau mwyaf eiconig.

“Mae’r cyllid y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i ddarparu i’r rhwydwaith safleoedd gwarchodedig yn gam hanfodol wrth amddiffyn ac adfer yr ardaloedd hyn a’n helpu i gryfhau rhwydweithiau ecolegol gwydn.

“Mae hyn yn rhoi gwell cyfle i ni fwynhau ac i’n lles meddyliol elwa o ein bywyd gwyllt a’n parciau cenedlaethol hardd heddiw ac i’r dyfodol. Mae’n golygu bod y gwasanaethau y mae natur yn eu darparu i ni yr ydym i gyd yn dibynnu arnynt – fel dŵr glân ac aer – yn cael eu diogelu’n well. Ac mae’n golygu y gallwn ni, a phopeth byw yng Nghymru, adeiladu gwell gwytnwch yn erbyn newid yn yr hinsawdd.

“Mae lleoedd fel Ardaloedd Cadwraeth Arbennig, Ardaloedd Gwarchodaeth Arbennig a Safleoedd o Ddiddordeb Gwyddonol Arbennig yn hynod bwysig i fywyd gwyllt a threftadaeth naturiol Cymru.

“Maen nhw’n gonglfeini i’n gwaith adfer natur, ac maen nhw’n amddiffyn ystod, ansawdd ac amrywiaeth rhai o’n rhywogaethau pwysicaf. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld y prosiectau cyffrous sy’n codi o’r gronfa sydd – ochr yn ochr â’r gwaith arall y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud, yn adeiladu adferiad gwyrdd ac iach o coronafeirws. ”

Wrth groesawu y Gronfa Rhwydweithiau Natur dywedodd Andrew White – Cyfarwyddwr Cronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri Genedlaethol yng Nghymru:

“Mae safleoedd gwarchodedig yn chwarae rhan hanfodol wrth wyrdroi effeithiau newid yn yr hinsawdd ac rydym wrth ein bodd ein bod yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi adferiad gwyrdd Cymru drwy’r Gronfa Rhwydweithiau Natur.

“Bydd y Gronfa Rhwydweithiau Natur hefyd yn cefnogi cymunedau yn y safleoedd gwarchodedig ac o’u cwmpas i gymryd rhan yn y gwaith hanfodol hwn. Bydd cymryd rhan yn rhoi buddion uniongyrchol i iechyd a lles y cymunedau rhain ynghyd â gwella gwytnwch y safleoedd.”

Er bod y Gronfa Rhwydweithiau Natur yn agor ar gyfer ceisiadau ar 12 Ebrill, mae manylion am y rhaglen bellach ar gael ar wefan Cronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri Genedlaethol.

Rhwng 12 Ebrill a 24 Mai, gall prosiectau sydd eisiau grantiau rhwng £50,000 a £100,000 gyflwyno eu ceisiadau.

Bydd angen i brosiectau sydd â diddordeb mewn ceisio am grantiau rhwng £100,000 a £500,000 gyflwynno mynegiad o ddiddordeb i Gronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri Genedlaethol yng Nghymru rhwng 12 Ebrill a 30 Ebrill.

Ar ôl hyn, gwahoddir grwpiau sydd wedi llwyddo yn y cam mynegiant diddordeb i wneud cais am grant rhwng 19 Mai a 30 Mehefin.

Gellir gweld gwybodaeth y Gronfa Rhwydweithiau Natur yma: https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/cy/node/110977

Manylion Cyswllt

Dominique Lyons

Welsh Government

0300 0250 591

Dominique.Lyons@gov.wales

Anfonwyd y datganiad hwn atoch gan Dîm Cyfryngau Llywodraeth Cymru gan ein bod yn credu y bydd o ddiddordeb i chi.

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

If you’d rather not receive these emails, please use the following unsubscribe link: Unsubscribe.

PRgloo logo
Powered by PRgloo Ltd. © 2021