The Designated Landscapes of Wales, working together as Tirweddau Cymru have responded to the most recent Welsh Government consultation on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
The designations of our landscapes recognises their value for nature, landscape, culture, and heritage. They have been shaped by farmers and land managers for generations and the majority of land within our designated landscapes continues to be farmed.
Landscapes have a critical role to play in the future of farming in Wales and the SFS will be a key delivery mechanism for action to respond on both the climate and nature emergencies. Given our track record as collaborators and land manager facilitators we have called for continued involvement in the development of the SFS.
Key points:
10% biodiversity target
We highlighted concern that the 10% woodland cover requirement is an arbitrary target that has been selected in response to WG planting targets, requiring further thought and understanding of land tenure and pragmatic information about growing trees in various systems and environments.
We suggested a combined total percentage target for woodland and habitat on holdings. This would accommodate fertile, improved ground in landscapes such as Llyn, Ynys Mon, Pembrokeshire and other areas that genuinely cannot accommodate 10% tree cover regardless of changes in land-use. Using this approach with temporary habitat formation may yield more for nature, and be more palatable for land managers.
Funding and support
We have called for sufficient resources for the scheme to begin and maintain the relationship that Welsh Government want with land managers and to be more inclusive of ideas and experience from the people managing the land.
We have recommended an advisor-based support model, and drawing on expertise and ideas from those managing the land. We have stressed the importance of a Wales wide Welsh language service to deliver SFS.