The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)
Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru
 |
Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru (CCW) Maes Ffynnon Ffordd Penrhos Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ United Kingdom Tel. +44 1248 385655 Fax +44 1248 385511 enquiries@ccw.gov.uk www.ccw.gov.uk |
Current and Future Activities
Present Priority Fields
- Preparing for and responding to climate change.
- Preparing for and coping with radical changes in rural land use and sea use, including CAP reform and global food shortages.
- Social and economic change, including globalisation and demographic changes.
- Continued loss of biodiversity and degradation of global ecosystems.
- Increasing emphasis on spatial policy and planning on land and at sea.
- Continued growth and diversification in recreational use of the environment and the increased recognition of its importance to the economy.
- An increasing emphasis on inclusion, participation, engagement and on delivering for citizens.
- Enhanced devolution and public sector reform.
Priorities 2008-2012:
During the Corporate Plan period 2008-12 all of CCW's activities, will be planned, managed and delivered under three main programmes.
Action on Wildlife and Landscape:
This programme will encompass our work in the following areas: informing
the main policy drivers - climate change, spatial planning, future changes in
EU agriculture and fisheries policy; in advising on over 4,500
developments a year and our involvement in projects that demonstrate how
integrating economic, environmental and social aspects can deliver benefits
for both people and wildlife. The work will be underpinned by an evidence base
which we will gather, interpret and present, showing how our natural
environment provides a range of goods and services that are vital for human
society and how that environment is changing. It will also focus on
safeguarding and improving the quality of our most special wildlife and earth
science sites in Wales and on protecting and enhancing the historic and
natural character of our landscapes. Recognising that Wales' landscapes and
wildlife are part of dynamic systems, we will continue our work to increase
the connectivity between protected sites and their surroundings during the
period 2008-12 and will encourage ways of working that take environmental
management beyond the boundaries of protected sites and areas.
People, Economy & Environment:
This programme will focus on providing better access opportunities so that
more people can regularly use the environment in a sensitive and responsible
way. Particular efforts will be needed to help excluded sectors of society
benefit as well. The programme will also aim to increase opportunities for
green volunteering and to improve outdoor learning experiences and skill
development amongst people of all ages in Wales.
Managing for the Future:
This programme will focus on improving the business efficiency and
effectiveness of CCW, on developing its role as an enabling, citizen-focused
public service, on effective and collaborative management of information and
knowledge and on maintaining and sharing exemplary environmental standards and
practice.
Other Major Projects:
- Lead on coordinating the delivery of the EU funded ‘Communities and Nature’ project
- Help develop and deliver integrated rural development projects (Cambrian Mountains Initiative, Dyfi Biosphere, Valleys Regional Park)
- Support and deliver LIFE projects (Berwyn and Migneint LIFE project, Anglesey and Lleyn Wetland LIFE Project)
- Provide advice on the Severn Tidal Power project
- Coordinate the delivery of the all-Wales Coastal Path.
Past Priority Fields
- Achieve a 10% increase in the number of environmentally dependent jobs by 2010;
- Begin delivery of a ‘Social Justice’ action plan to meet the environmental needs of socially excluded communities in 2006;
- Achieve Green Dragon level 5 ‘green’ standard by 2005;
- Increase the area of the most important habitats by 20,000 hectares by 2013;
- Ensure that at least 90% of the special features within geological SSSIs are in good condition by 2013;
- Ensure that Management Plans are in place for all AONB and National Parks by 2006;
- Develop further the Tir Gofal agri-environment scheme, and aim for 50% of farmland to be entered into Tir Gofal or other agri-environment schemes by 2010;
- Help develop a national (Wales) strategy for integrated coastal zone management by 2007;
- Begin to deliver a landscape-scale integrated land-use project in 2005, focusing on diffuse pollution and community involvement;
- Publish conclusive maps of open country and common land by 2005, and then develop similar access opportunities for open coastal land;
- The 15 most suitable of the National Nature Reserves will have appropriate visitor facilities and interpretation by 2010;
- Ensure that 80% of visitors to the countryside are aware of the new Country Code, to be published in 2004, by 2013;
- Make all relevant corporate data available on the National Biodiversity Network by 2007;
- Establish the first phase of a series of reference sites providing information on what is happening to the environment, including evidence of climate change, by 2006;
- Include measures of the quality of life of people living in Wales in the environmental reporting by 2007.
Background and Mission
Background
The CCW was established in 1991 (but its predecessor bodies the Nature Conservancy, dates from 1949, the Nature Conservancy Council from 1973, and the Countryside Commission from 1968).
Mission
The CCW is the statutory adviser to government on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment throughout Wales and its inshore waters. With Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage, CCW delivers its statutory responsibilities for Great Britain as a whole, and internationally, through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The CCW has been asked by the Welsh Assembly Government to promote sustainable development actively.
The overall aim of CCW's work is to help the process of sustainable development in Wales to ensure that human activity does not harm the impressive natural environment.
The CCW's job is to ensure that sustainable economic development proceeds hand in hand with the conservation of the precious natural heritage. That means the Welsh cherished landscapes, wildlife and the habitats on which plants and animals depend both on land and within the sea around the coast, and the geological part of the natural heritage, the rocks and land features which determine the way Wales looks. The CCW is also responsible for providing more opportunities for the people of Wales and for visitors to get into the countryside, both to gain pleasure from it, healthy exercise and a greater understanding of it so that its value can be sustained for the future.
The CCW's vision is for a Welsh countryside and coast which are:
- rich in wildlife and landscapes sustained through care for future generations;
- appropriately protected, enhanced and made accessible to all through partnerships;
- places people can learn from and enjoy.
The CCW advises the National Assembly of Wales (the senior elected tier of administration in Wales) on wildlife and landscape conservation, and on encouraging better access to the countryside and coast. It has a large number of statutory duties and responsibilities to fulfill under various Acts of Parliament. The CCW has powers to give grants for a variety of purposes, and it has duties in relation to National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Trails.
Strategic aims for 2008-2012:
- To safeguard and improve the quality of our wildlife habitats, our species, geology and landscapes and the natural systems that support them and ourselves.
- To ensure the value of the environment and the functions it performs are better understood, and that these are taken into account more fully when making decisions that affect our lives
- To enable more people to have direct experience of the outdoor environment and to play an active part in its management
- To refine and strengthen our own systems of governance and internal control, streamlining systems and collaborating with others to achieve shared outcomes effectively and efficiently.
The CCW advises the National Assembly of Wales (the senior elected tier of administration in Wales) on wildlife and landscape conservation, and on encouraging better access to the countryside and coast. It has a large number of statutory duties and responsibilities to fulfill under various Acts of Parliament. The CCW has powers to give grants for a variety of purposes, and it has duties in relation to National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Trails.
Board Members
The CCW has 10 Board Members with different backgrounds who are responsible, individually and collectively, to the National Assembly for Wales for providing effective leadership for the CCW, for setting its policy and for ensuring that it meets its objectives within the statutory, policy and financial framework laid down for it. Their term of appointment differs.
| Chair Mr. Morgan Parry |
Member of the Climate Change Commission for Wales; Regular contributor to TV and radio programmes on the environment. |
| Members Dr Dyfed Eli-Gruffydd |
Self
Employed Translator, Editor and Lecturer Member of Welsh Medium Higher Education Centre Awards Panel for Welsh medium Schemes, Scholarships and Fellowships Chair of Environmental Sector Welsh Language Working Group Member of Cerrig Cymru Forum Executive Committee Member of Cardigan language Action Plan Executive Committee Member of Cymdeithas Edward Llwyd Member of Geologists' Association - South Wales Group |
| Dr Susan Gubbay | Self-employed Marine Consultant. Specialist Adviser to EFRA Select Committee pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Marine Bill |
| Dr. Ieuan Joyce | Farmer Member of the Upland Forum Farmer in Ceredigion and Herefordshire Director, JNCC Support Co Ltd Member Of Upland Forum Member of JNCC |
| Mr Andy Middleton | Facilitator, speaker and consultant in
sustainability, climate change and organisation development Managing Director, The TYF Group Ltd Managing Director, The TYF Group, St David's Director, Pembrokeshire Properties, St David's Director, Cynnal Cymru Sustain Wales |
| W P O'Reilly | Self-employed writer and broadcaster on
environmental and fisheries subjects. Vice-President of The Wild Trout Trust. Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (FIET). Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD). Member of the Game Angling Instructors Association (GAIA). Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructor (APGAI) (self employed) Managing Director (self employed) of First Nature, publisher of books and multi-media environmental education resources specialising in wildlife, ecology and countryside activities. Trustee, Llandysul Angling Association |
| Alan Underwood | Management consultant AU Partnerships Ltd Torfaen Cleanstream Recycling Ltd Cleanstream Group Community Interest Company Board Member, Wales council for Voluntary Action Secretary: Third Sector Development and Training Ltd |
| Rod Williams | Farmer - smallholder and Landowner Chair: Agri Food Partnership, North Wales, National Assembly sponsored Member: Appeals Panel for Wales re Single Farm Payment Governor - Llysfasi College, Ruthin Treasurer, Ty Croese, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd (Centre to accommodate parents of sick children). Treasurer (Clwyd) for Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (Charity to support farming families) |
| Ms. Lynette Thomas | Employed by the Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer) |
Staff Members
The CCW has a secretariat with around 515 staff, who partly work at the headquarters and are partly based in local area teams. Roger Thomas is the Director.
Work Style
Tasks of the CCW
The CCW although accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, is an independent body, and can choose what advice it wishes to give to the National Assembly and others.
CCW produces a formal Annual Report for the National Assembly for Wales, detailing CCW’s activities over a year. It also produces on an annual basis, "The Year Ahead", which details its work programme for the forthcoming year. It has produced with the Forestry Commission a State of the Environment Report, "A Living Environment", which will be updated on a regular basis.
Substructure and Working Groups
The CCW as an organisation is divided into three Directorates: Operations Directorate (Terrestrial Science; Marine Science; Environmental Monitoring; Operational Support) Policy Directorate (Resources Management; Recreation and Access; External Relations); Corporate Services Directorate (Personnel; Finance; Resource Planning and Efficiency). It also has 3 Regional Teams (North Wales; West & South-West Wales; East & South East Wales).
CCW Meetings
The CCW meets 6 times a year.
Type of Advice
The CCW picks the issues if focuses on both by own initiative and upon request.
The CCW produces a Corporate Plan (annual); an Annual Report; a State of the Environment Report (every 4 years); various scientific and policy advice as and when needed.
Activities in the EEAC Network
The CCW was involved in the early years of the network and became member when
membership was introduced in 1997. It became partner in 2008. In 2005 the CCW was one of the co-organisors of the 13th EEAC Annual Conference on Climate Change and Biodiversity - Meeting the Challenge in Oxford, UK.
As of October 2009 Roger Thomas has been elected as the Secretary Treasurer to the EEAC Stichting Management.
The CCW is an active member of the Working Groups Agriculture, Marine and Sustainable Development/Governance and an observer to the Working Group Biodiversity.
List of Publications Available in English
It produces a number of other reports detailing its policies, and its guidance and advice. Reports and Research material are available on CCW’s website, www.ccw.gov.uk/.
- A
Report on Barriers to Integration and Recommendations for Improving
Integrated Management at the Coast in Wales
(January 2011)
- Sustaining Ecosystem Services for Human Well–Being: Mapping Ecosystem Services (pdf. 3,5 MB, September 2010)
- Beach nourishment operations in Wales and likely future requirements for beach nourishment in an era of sea level rise and climate change (pdf. 16 MB, May 2010)
- Highly Protected Marine Conservation Zones: defining damaging and disturbing activities (pdf. 0,7 MB, June 2009)
- Marine and Coastal Recreation Audit (pdf. 5,5 MB, April 2009)
- ‘Wildlife Economy Wales’: An Economic Evaluation Scoping Study, (May 2007);
- State of the marine environment in SW Wales, 10 years after the Sea Empress oil spill, (February 2006);
- Potential Nature Conservation and Landscape Impacts of Marine Energy Renewable Developments in Welsh Territorial Waters - Part I and Part II(May 2005);
- Strategic Environmental Assessment and Climate Change: Guidance for Practitioners, (May 2004)
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Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils, Den Haag. All Rights Reserved.
Last update: 23 May 2011.