The Assembly Member for Aberconwy has called on the Welsh Government to commit to the future of conservation within National Parks in Wales.

Much criticism has been made of the recent Future Landscapes report (the recommendations of which the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs appears to have endorsed), including concerns raised by the Alliance for Welsh Designated Landscapes and the Snowdonia Society, who have called for the report to be rewritten [see attached].

Janet said:

“Serious concerns have been raised with regards to this report on National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales, which fails to mentioned ‘conservation’ even once.

“Conservation must remain the primary purpose of our National Parks – without this principle at the forefront of their values, the landscapes we so treasure – and which are so vital to our tourism economy – are at risk for our future generations.

“The Cabinet Secretary must commit to the Sandford Principle, and it is disappointing that she feels unable to expressly do so.”

ENDS

Attached: correspondence from the Alliance for Welsh Designated Landscapes

Plenary transcript 18/10/2017:

Janet Finch-Saunders

5. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the review of designated landscapes in Wales? (OAQ51197)

Lesley Griffiths

Thank you. The recent review has provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance to Wales of our designated landscapes. I will make a statement on the way forward when I have considered the wide range of comments in response to the recent consultation on ‘Taking forward Wales’ sustainable management of natural resources’.

Janet Finch-Saunders

Cabinet Secretary, I’m really interested in your thoughts on the Alliance for Welsh Designated Landscapes’s response to the review. The alliance has called for the report to be rewritten to provide traceability from the Marsden report, from the recommendations of which, of course—I’m looking at Dafydd; sorry, Dafydd—it was commissioned.

They have also—this is what they said now. They have also called for a clear reaffirmation of the Sandford principle. Will you commit to both of these proposals today?

Lesley Griffiths

I certainly won’t be having any report rewritten. It was a group that took a decision, brought a report forward that I’ve accepted. I was very grateful to Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas—who only has to look, clearly—for doing the work that he did with the group. In relation to the Sandford principle, I’m very happy to say, once again: I will not bring forward any proposals for reform that would put the natural beauty and special qualities of areas of national beauty and national parks at risk. I think there was a lot of mischief making that went on, and I’m very happy to confirm that again in the Chamber.