The Welsh Government has announced that it is allocating additional funding for projects supporting nature and the environment.
Coming from the latest round of the Nature Network Fund, £8.2 million worth of investment is being committed to helping the Welsh Government achieve its Global Biodiversity Framework 30 by 30 goal. That target aims to protect and manage 30% of the earth’s environment by 2030.
Julie James, Welsh Minister for Climate Change, said:
“Tackling the climate and nature emergencies is at the heart of everything we do - we must protect our environment for future generations to enjoy.
“I’m delighted to announce the latest round of funding today, it’s always inspiring to see the variety of amazing work happening right across Wales to protect nature and biodiversity.
“This new funding will help facilitate the ‘Team Wales’ approach that we require to improve the condition and resilience of our protected sites while engaging local communities and connecting them to amazing natural sites on their doorsteps.”
The Nature Network Fund comes from the Welsh Government, in collaboration with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Natural Resources Wales, having been established to make the nation’s protected land and marine sites more resilient, whilst also engaging local communities.
One programme that has received funding is Project Seagrass, which supports the conservation of seagrass habitats. These are important as they help to capture carbon emissions, supporting national commitments to addressing nature and climate emergencies.
Director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, Andrew White, also commented:
"Funding natural heritage projects which help tackle the effects of climate change and support nature’s recovery is a key priority for The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales.
"The Nature Networks Fund is a valuable partnership which helps us to meet this objective.
"These latest awards will support an impressive variety of projects which demonstrate the ambition of the Fund as well as the scale of the challenge facing us all."
Image credit: iStock
