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Local Authorities and Sustainable Peatland Management: Current Opportunities and Future Possibilities for Local Approaches
Including information on peatlands in evidence gathering on green infrastructure and resilient ecological networks in the local area and including this in Local Development Plans. Local planning authorities (LPAs) are tasked with collating evidence on green infrastructure, biodiversity and ecosystems resilience in the local area. Using this evidence LPAs must then work with other partners to identify areas in their Local Development Plan (LDP) that need to be safeguarded to support resilient ecological networks and maximise green infrastructure in the local area. These responsibilities are set out in Future Wales, the National Development Plan for Wales. Future Wales sets the direction for investment in infrastructure and development from a spatial perspective for the next 20 years and provides essential guidance to local authorities in producing their own Local Development Plans. Local Development Plans (LDP) must be in conformity with Future Wales and must also take into account national planning policy referred to as Planning Policy Wales (PPW (PPW). Green infrastructure is defined in PPW as “the network of natural and semi-natural features, green spaces, rivers and lakes that intersperse and connect places”. 2 It is often associated with green spaces in urban areas, but nature is everywhere and not always green! The reality is that natural infrastructure, including peatlands, exist and connect nature across urban and rural environments. Resilient ecological networks are described in Future Wales as: “networks of habitat in good ecological condition linking protected sites and other biodiversity hotspots across the wider landscape, providing maximum benefit for biodiversity and well-being.” 3 In particular, resilient ecological networks will expand and make connections between designated sites; and connect with the lists of principle species and habitats in s7 Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (s7 lists). As noted above, some peatlands may be the reason for designation of SSSIs and SACs whilst others may sit within designated sites. Some forms of peatland are also included on the s7 lists of priority habitats, i.e., upland flushes, lowland fens, purple moor grass and rush, reedbeds and blanket bog. PPW also specifically recognises that peatlands are an essential part of these resilient ecological networks. As noted above, a map of peatlands in Wales of peat >40cm has been provided by NRW and details of SSSIs in the local area and their management plans are available on NRW’s platform for protected areas. This can be used in conjunction with other mapping by NRW, on ecological networks, biodiversity hotspots, ecosystem services and opportunities for habitat creation, to ensure that the contribution of peatlands to biodiversity and well-being are considered. The contribution of peatlands is also outlined in practitioner guidance on resilient ecological networks produced by NRW. Together these sources of evidence can help in understanding how peat resources can be viewed as part of resilient ecological networks.
2 Welsh Government Planning Policy Wales (edition 11) ( 131 3 Future Wales the National Plan 2040 (Welsh Government, 2019) 76
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