Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru | National Assembly for Wales

Y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig | Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee

Ymchwiliad i ddyfodol Polisïau Amaethyddol a Datblygu Gwledig yng Nghymru | Inquiry into the Future of Agricultural and Rural Development Policies in Wales

AAB 32

Ymateb gan : Darparodd nifer o unigolion yr ymateb a ganlyn i'r ymchwiliad

Evidence from : Numerous individuals provided the following response to the inquiry

The UK’s departure from the EU provides Wales with an unmissable opportunity to reshape farming policy for the benefit of people, wildlife and the environment. I am writing to urge you to ensure nature is at the heart of a new sustainable land management policy in Wales.

We know that the diversity of our wildlife is in severe decline and that our environment, on which we all depend, is degraded. Unsustainable farming practices, driven by bad policies, have been one of the principal causes of this decline. Good food needs a thriving natural environment to grow and, when over 80% of our countryside is farmed, it’s obvious that farmland must have space for wildlife too.

Farming affects everything from our wildlife, air, soil, water, climate, ecosystems and landscapes to our economy, our rural communities and our wellbeing, so sustainable land management is good for people as well. In other words, it provides public goods and services. These benefits include locking carbon deep in healthy soils and peat bogs, which helps tackle climate change, or the feeling of peace a long walk in the countryside can bring us. These benefits aren’t costed into markets. In many cases, they don’t have a monetary value at all, but are still deeply valuable to us.

Now is our chance to choose a policy that values and supports the continued delivery of these crucial things: ‘public goods and services’ for the welfare of our country. I’m pleased that the Committee are considering this pivotal issue. I urge you to continue this good work and to support a policy that:

1.            Both focuses on nature and supports sustainable food production and other land use.

2.            Helps vulnerable and rare species and makes once common species common again.

3.            Secures enough financial support for farmers and land managers to help protect nature and support land use.

Please do what you can to help to give farmers and land managers what they need to nurture wildlife, a healthy and productive environment, and the landscapes we love so much for us and future generations.