Land of our Future

Nature is our life support system. It protects our health, looks after our well-being, and is a vital ally in the fight against climate change – which will further damage our land, rivers, and seas. Without nature, we would not have our strong Welsh agricultural heritage. Without nature, we risk losing the vital role agriculture plays in sustaining our rural economy and communities. Without nature, we can’t ensure health and well-being for our future generations.

Without action to strengthen a new Agriculture (Wales) Bill, 1 in 6 Welsh species continue to be at risk of extinction in large part due to agricultural land management. This includes iconic species such as curlews, salmon, hedgehogs and bats, all championed by our Senedd Members.

There is not much time left to ensure the new Agriculture (Wales) Bill will enable the restoration of nature in Wales. Despite months of discussions with the Welsh Government, the Bill currently ignores the importance of nature restoration. This Bill will shortly be agreed upon by the Senedd, and if restoring nature is not included, it will undermine nature’s recovery.

With farmland covering nearly 90% of Wales, farmers have a vital role in protecting and restoring nature, which needs to be enshrined in law. Although some farmers have demonstrated a fantastic ability to be custodians of the countryside, they are still the minority. Farmers are encouraged to use unsustainable farming practices that have reduced natural habitats through the use of pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and overstocking. All of this has contributed to the loss of wildlife as well as the pollution of many of our rivers.