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Local Authorities and Sustainable Peatland Management: Current Opportunities and Future Possibilities for Local Approaches
Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
Methodology ................................................................................................................................................... 4
What is peat and what are peatlands? ............................................................................................................. 5
Why are peatlands important? ........................................................................................................................ 5
What is sustainable peatland management (SPM) and why is it important? ................................................... 6
What measures are currently being taken to secure SPM in Wales? ................................................................ 7
What is the relationship between peatlands and local authority areas in Wales? ......................................... 11
Why should local authorities be interested in SPM? ...................................................................................... 13
Why will SPM become of increasing importance for local authorities? .......................................................... 15
Climate change targets in Wales ...................................................................................................................... 15
Nature recovery in Wales ................................................................................................................................. 16
Nature and Covid 19 recovery. ......................................................................................................................... 17
What actions might local authorities take to support SPM? .......................................................................... 17
Core Statutory Functions .................................................................................................................................. 18 Land use planning ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Flood prevention .......................................................................................................................................... 22 Access to peatlands ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Statutory Duties to Promote, Plan and Report ................................................................................................. 23 Well-being of Future Generations (WFG) .................................................................................................... 23 Biodiversity and Ecosystems Resilience ....................................................................................................... 24 Local authority’s own operations ..................................................................................................................... 24 Procurement ................................................................................................................................................ 24 Landownership ............................................................................................................................................ 24 Other Policy Development ................................................................................................................................ 25 Climate change ............................................................................................................................................ 26 Culture, heritage and tourism ...................................................................................................................... 26
Local Authorities and Partnership Working for SPM ...................................................................................... 27
Working with Other Actors to Support SPM. .................................................................................................... 27 Natural Resources Wales ............................................................................................................................. 28 National Parks .............................................................................................................................................. 28 Third Sector Organisations ........................................................................................................................... 29 Private Landowners ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) ........................................................................................................................... 30 Mechanisms for regional and local partnership working that might support SPM at a local level. ................ 31 Public Service Boards ................................................................................................................................... 31 Area Statements .......................................................................................................................................... 33
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