Wales Environment Link

We will now continue to work to make the promises of the Bill – of policy embedding environmental protection and improvement, of access to environmental justice for citizens, and of rebuilding our biodiversity - a reality.

We also want to thank everyone at WEL and in Green Alliance who worked so hard to make sure this Bill is as strong as it could be. Your work ensured that this Bill sets a clear path for future governments.

We want to commend the Senedd and the teams in the Welsh Government for writing a robust piece of legislation which will deliver real change on the ground for the Environment in Wales.

We’ve just seen a landmark moment for the environment in Wales It’s taken nearly eight years but, last night, Senedd Cymru finally agreed new laws to restore nature, put the environment at the heart of policy making and increase access to environmental justice…

On Tuesday, the Senedd passed the Environment (Principles, Governance, and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill. This is a huge moment for Welsh environmental law.

greenallianceblog.org.uk/2026/02/25/w...

Targets and watchdog for nature as Senedd passes new law A new law designed to better protect nature and reverse the loss of wildlife in Wales is passed.

After 9 years of campaigning, the Environment (Principles, Governance & Biodiversity Targets) Bill finally passed on Tuesday. We will continue to work to ensure the promises of the Bill are kept; a strong OEGW, citizens' access to justice & rebuilding our biodiversity.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A simple way for employers to give back - WCVA Payroll Giving is an easy way for Welsh employers of all kinds to support good causes by allowing their staff to make donations before tax.

February is #PayrollGivingMonth; it's a scheme that allows employees to support their favourite charities in exchange for tax relief. A win win!

Find out how Welsh businesses that use it are improving their social impact while helping employees to make their donations go further… wcva.cymru/payroll

So pleased to announce Mark Drakeford - sponsored by @jameshitch.bsky.social with @rewildingbritain.org.uk - as the last MS to join our Species Champion project for 2021-2026 term! Just under the wire, we'll be trying to peregrine-spot at City Hall very soon

cardiffjournalism.co.uk/intercardiff...

YouTube video by Campaign for National Parks Running out of time: River Cleddau, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

You can use their e-action to let Welsh Gov know you're worried too & want us to make best use of upcoming reforms to clean up our most precious waterways.

Salmon are almost extinct in Wales & we need to save the incredible wildlife that used to thrive 🐟 🦦 🪿 🪲 🐠

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCVt...

Rivers At Risk We’re demanding urgent action from Government in England and Wales to protect and prioritise National Park waterways.

Campaign for National Parks - @campaign4parks.bsky.social - are launching their Rivers at Risk campaign today: www.cnp.org.uk/support/camp...

48% of rivers in Welsh National Parks are failing to meet a good ecological standard, according to their Rivers at Risk report.

Clear Waters – shining a light on what water industry spend will deliver for the environment - Wales Environment Link Joint Blog: Wildlife & Countryside Link & Wales Environment Link The financial settlement for the water industry for 2025-2030 is the largest ever for a five-year period. Funded up front by investors,...

Here's our latest blog with @wclnews.bsky.social about Ofwat's new Clear Waters programme, making sure we can see what environmental benefits will come from water company investment, alongside things like upgrades or new infrastructure.

waleslink.org/clear-waters...

Sign the Petition Protect Reservoir Wood, Llandough's ancient woodland

1/2. Protect Reservoir Wood:
Llandough's nature rich and irreplaceable Ancient Woodland. You can't keep bulldozing unique & long established habitats & deliver meaningful climate adaptation, nature's restoration. @waleslink.bsky.social

Sign the Petition www.change.org/p/protect-re...

This is a graphic for a longer quoted comment from Karen Whitfield, Director of WEL. The photo alongside it is of the River Ely, winding through light green hills, surrounded by trees and hedge lines in the distance. The quote says: "Wales Environment Link welcomes the launch of the Welsh Government’s Green Paper on water system reform today, with its ambition and intent to develop a more holistic water system that works for Wales. We desperately need more investment in our water system, covering all sectors that impact upon water quality and availability. It won’t be easy to fund, but we’re glad to see commitments towards more investment in monitoring and enforcement, as well as modernising regulation. The timeline for the new regulatory system to be in place is long, but we are heartened to hear from the Deputy First Minister that we don’t need to wait to get started on this transition – there are already opportunities to drive improvements through existing processes and regulation. Let’s get on and deliver the change we need to see.”

We welcome the Green Paper on water system reform published today by @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social & its proposals that we desperately need for water quality. You can read it as a new consultation here: www.gov.wales/green-paper-...

And see the BBC Wales story here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The largest water industry settlement is being paid for by customers, but what will it deliver for nature?

Our latest blog explains why clearer, more transparent reporting on environmental outcomes is essential.

Find the blog here: wcl.org.uk/clear-waters...

This is a block of text from WEL, alongside a top-down aerial image of the River Ely (just outside Cardiff), a winding greyish block of river going around a bend, dotted with some trees and green fields surrounding it. The text says: "SoNaRR is Wales' environmental report card and we're failing on every measure. We need systemic change, and we need to stop treating nature and climate as mere afterthought. We cannot keep saying budgets and jobs are 'greener' when the evidence clearly shows that actually, everything is more polluted, more degraded and species are more in danger of becoming extinct. Alongside a change in priority for the environment - both in funding and policy - the Welsh Government must ensure regulations are robust, that the new Office for Environmental Governance Wales (yet to be established) is well resourced independent; and that Natural Resources Wales' enforcement is strong. Restoration efforts are not just fun and nice-to-have projects - they are the frontline of environmental recovery. SoNaRR 2025 sounds the alarm that we are still on a path to significant decline; and the chances are running out to turn it around."

We've put our response here; but we could say it in an even more brief way...

SoNaRR is the alarm for Welsh nature. And yet we keep ignoring it.

#WeNeedNature #AngenNatur #StateOfNaturalResources

Natural Resources Wales issues stark warning over wildlife loss and polluted rivers A major Welsh environment report calls for action across society so people can live more sustainably.

The State of Natural Resources (SoNaRR) report is Wales' environmental report card & we're failing on every measure. The story below is worth a read; full report here: cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/f45ehjei/son...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Toads on Roads is one of Froglife’s most under-funded projects, yet it saves thousands of toads every year.

Donations help support volunteers, manage data and reduce wildlife road deaths.

Help save toads this breeding season: https://ow.ly/xQe950Y3QiZ

#ToadsOnRoads2026

📷 Chris Pook

This is a beach, strewn with pebbles and rocks, with patches of sand in between. Behind it is the sea, in front a patch of grassland. An old metal sign has been degraded by the salty air, but still clearly says 'Keep Wales Tidy - Take your litter HOME'.

A more modern anti-litter sign, this one with Cardiff Council's logo in Heath Park. It says: 'Why are you tossing litter around here? - I'm lazy / I don't care about this community / I think other people should pay to clean up after me'. 'Don't be a TOSSER - you brought your rubbish here, please take it home with you'.

We're grateful to the valuable work from the members of the CPG, @mickantoniw.bsky.social, @carolynthomasms.bsky.social, @delythjewell.bsky.social, @janedodds.bsky.social & Janet Finch-Saunders. It's a truly cross party problem - no one wants litter - and the solutions are set out in the booklet.

This was a super helpful event from an active Cross Party Group, doing valuable work between MSs and environmental organisations.

Included was a great booklet they've produced about all the actions the next Welsh Gov needs to take to truly tackle waste problems: waleslink.org/wp-content/u...

Protected Sites – Safe havens for Wales’ wildlife? - Wales Environment Link Guest Blog: Rachel Bedwin at RSPB Cymru Nature is in crisis in Wales – wildlife numbers are plummeting, with one in six species at risk of being lost from Wales according to the State of Nature 2023. ...

Here's our latest blog from @rspbcymru.bsky.social on if our most at-risk and precious species are really being helped by sites designated for them.

SSSIs, SACs, SPAs, 'designated landscapes', nature reserves... whatever you call them, how are they doing for nature?

waleslink.org/protected-si...

Llyr Gruffydd standing underneath a presentation saying ‘the weatherproof farm’

A farming advisor showing slides of dry and unhealthy soils, not absorbing water during high rain events and sitting on the surface instead.

Cows on a leaflet. Two brown and one white cow look straight to camera in a grassy field, with beautiful hillsides the background. Title is: Food from living fields - a roadmap for nature friendly farming in wales.

Leaflet page: Our key asks: 1 - Ensure a sufficient and ring-fenced budget: Deliver ambitious farm system change 2 - Prioritise ambitious land management schemes: Make nature-friendly actions the easy choice 3 - Implement robust, clear and fair regulation: Protect the environment and deter poor practice 4 - Strengthen knowledge exchange and advisory support: Enable a widespread farming transition 5 - adopt an ambitious approach to food policy: Remove key barriers to a fairer, healthier, and truly nature-friendly food system

We’re here to support the excellent @nffn.bsky.social Wales with their Weatherproof Farming asks. @llyrgruffydd.bsky.social is sponsoring the event, which highlights the needs of farmers in adapting to more unpredictable weather patterns - flooding, dry summers & unpredictable winters.

It's likely Welsh Ministers will be forced into accepting a weakened scheme, unless relations seriously change over the direction of devolution.

Happy to talk to any MSs who want to raise these issues in the Senedd, @delythjewell.bsky.social @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social @jennyrathbone.bsky.social

Delivering a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers - Wales Environment Link We responded to the Welsh Government consultation on setting up a Deposit Return Scheme; this is the latest in a series of consultations, due to ongoing uncertainty on whether Wales would be part of a...

The Welsh Government is in a no-win situation, and environmentalists are frustrated that we've been talking about this for decades, and still get stuck in arguments like this.

This was our response to the umpteenth consultation on this: waleslink.org/delivering-a...

Wales stuck to its guns - fair play to @prifweinidog.gov.wales, @juliejamesms.bsky.social, @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social for doing so - & sought an exemption to the Internal Market Act. UK Gov refused. And now the only bid to be their separate DMO (Management Org) is also refusing.

So far, so irritating, but ultimately, England's decision is for England. However, due to the reversal of some devolved principles that make up of the UK Internal Market Act, they also refused to allow Wales and Scotland to do more ambitious schemes, preventing innovation and learning.

Devolution in Jeopardy: Why the Internal Market Act is stopping environment policy - Wales Environment Link Guest Blog: Kat Jones from Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) Environmental organisations in the UK recently wrote to the Prime Minister expressing concerns about how the Internal Market Act (IMA...

This constitutional argument has been rumbling on for a while, as we outlined here.

The evidence for the UK-wide scheme was that an 'all in, all materials' DRS was the best solution, and it was really just industry pressure that made the UK Gov roll back on glass.

waleslink.org/devolution-i...

Welsh deposit return scheme: companies insist on ‘bail out clause’ The deadine for bids to run DRS in Wales runs out on Friday

This is really problematic; the only bid for being the Management Organisation for a new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Wales objects to the parameters Ministers have set for a better, more progressive DRS (than the UK's) that includes glass & container re-use.

www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/welsh-d...

Manifesto For Welsh Rivers - Afonydd Cymru The commitments needed from political parties if Wales’s rivers are to improve under the next Welsh Government....

As the 2026 Senedd elections near, our 'Manifesto For Welsh Rivers' outlines the commitments that are needed from the political parties if Wales’s rivers are to improve under the next Government.

afonyddcymru.org/manifesto-ri...

Manifesto For Welsh Rivers - Afonydd Cymru The commitments needed from political parties if Wales’s rivers are to improve under the next Welsh Government....

Wrth i etholiadau’r Senedd 2026 agosáu, mae ein ‘Maniffesto ar gyfer Afonydd Cymru’ yn amlinellu’r ymrwymiadau y mae eu hangen gan y pleidiau gwleidyddol os yw afonydd Cymru i wella dan y Llywodraeth nesaf.

afonyddcymru.org/manifesto-ri...

Through the Natur Am Byth partnership, our work with dedicated volunteers and landowners is helping this endangered butterfly to thrive once again. 🦋

Learn more about the project 👉 www.naturambyth.cymru/en/our-work/...

High Brown Fritillary butterfly resting on bracken

Sadly, the High Brown has undergone dramatic declines across the UK, and in Wales, only a single colony remains in the Vale of Glamorgan.

📷: Paul Dunn