Nature recovery action plan: 2026

Nature in Wales is under unprecedented pressure and ecosystems across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments are not resilient to current pressures. The State of Natural Resources Report 2025 (SoNaRR25) (on Natural Resources Wales) shows that the ongoing decline in biodiversity is weakening Wales’ ecosystems, which in turn undermines community wellbeing, economic prosperity, and long‑term resilience. A healthy natural environment underpins our economy, supports our cultural identity, and provides the essential ecosystem services we depend on every day.

The Nature Recovery Action Plan for Wales (NRAP) sets out our national framework for responding to these challenges. It brings together the latest evidence, aligns with international commitments such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, and reflects Wales’ legislative landscape, including the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill (which has been passed by the Senedd and is awaiting Royal Assent.)

At the heart of the NRAP are six strategic aims that address the key drivers of biodiversity loss and are designed to guide coordinated action across government, public bodies and communities. These aims are and will be supported by clear actions designed to accelerate nature’s recovery, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and ensure that our decisions today safeguard the natural resources of tomorrow.

Delivering this plan requires collective effort. Every part of government, every public authority, every organisation, and every citizen has a role to play. The NRAP provides the foundation for that collaboration, bringing clarity to our ambitions and setting a clear direction to drive urgent action now.

Restoring nature is not only an environmental imperative—it is vital to building a fairer, greener, and more resilient Wales, supporting jobs, skills development, and stronger community engagement along the way. I welcome this NRAP and the commitment it represents to securing a better future for nature, our economy, and the people and communities of Wales.

Biodiversity in Wales

Biodiversity refers to the variety of all living things, including all species of plants and animals, the variety of different habitats and ecosystems which these species inhabit, in addition to the genetic variety within and between species. Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are critical for our survival, providing us with clean air, water, food, medicines, fuel, fibre and timber, as well as supporting our health and wellbeing and the prosperity of the nation.

In Wales, biodiversity is more than an environmental asset: it is integral to our culture, economy and sense of place – it supports our daily lives and livelihoods, yet it is under increasing pressure. 

Globally, biodiversity has been in decline, with a 69 per cent decline in relative abundance of monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2018 (WWF, 2022). In the UK, the abundance and distribution of species have also, on average, declined since the 1970s (Hayhow et al., 2019). Prior to the 1970s, depletion had already occurred for centuries, so this decline is from an already degraded baseline. 

Wales faces a biodiversity crisis that reflects global patterns of ecological decline, driven by long-term land use change, pollution, climate change and the fragmentation of habitats.

The recently published SoNaRR 2025 sets out that Wales is one of the most nature‑depleted countries in the world, with nearly one in five species at risk of extinction, and that pollution, unsustainable land use and climate change are driving further losses across terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine environments. Wales therefore stands at a critical moment - climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are not distant threats; they are here, shaping lives and livelihoods now.

This is a defining moment for biodiversity in Wales. We have the evidence, the expertise and the policy and legislative framework needed to turn the tide on nature loss. What we need now is the determination to act - boldly, urgently and at scale. We will take transformative action now to secure a Wales where biodiversity is recovering, ecosystems are resilient, communities benefit from thriving nature, and future generations know we chose to make a difference when it mattered most.

This NRAP is the Welsh Ministers’ plan for the purposes of section 6(6) of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. It sets out how the Welsh Ministers intend to comply with their duty to seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity and promote the resilience of ecosystems in the exercise of their functions, and it provides the national framework that guides how we will halt and reverse biodiversity loss. 

The NRAP demonstrates the way in which biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem resilience are incorporated into policy development, decision‑making and delivery across government ensuring that our actions are aligned and focused on driving meaningful, long‑term nature recovery in Wales.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which was adopted in December 2022 at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. It confirmed a global mission to halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030, and achieve recovery by 2050, so that nature will thrive, ‘sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people’. 

The GBF requires each Party to the CBD to produce a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which sets out how they will deliver against the targets, actions, governance, monitoring systems, and cross‑sector integration to implement the GBF effectively. Doing so provides the essential national blueprint for delivering global biodiversity goals through coordinated, measurable, and inclusive action. This NRAP also serves as Wales’ NBSAP and will aim to capture these elements going forward for Wales.

The recently published 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (on United Kingdom Biodiversity website) reports that while progress has been made towards the 23 GBF targets, most national biodiversity targets are advancing at an insufficient rate to meet the ambitions agreed at COP15. Wales’ strong policy frameworks, commitment to 30 by 30, active restoration programmes and robust evidence systems provide a solid foundation for recovery, but transformative action is needed to address delivery gaps and accelerate progress towards a resilient, nature‑positive Wales.

Wales has recently passed new legislation - the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill (awaiting Royal Assent) with the collective aim of strengthening and enhancing our response to the climate and nature emergencies based on a high level of environmental protection and an improvement of the environment.  The Bill introduces a statutory biodiversity target-setting framework into Part 1 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 with a focus on halting and reversing the decline in biodiversity and restoring ecosystems to resilient levels, which is supported by enhanced planning, monitoring and reporting duties, empowering the Welsh Ministers to set legally binding targets that drive action to restore nature.

The Bill also introduces a duty on the Welsh Ministers to promote awareness in Wales of the importance of biodiversity and the threats to it, recognising the need for action by whole of society as well as the whole of government. 

SoNaRR 2025 highlights opportunities for action. These opportunities are not optional. They are essential to delivering a fair, sustainable and prosperous Wales 

By setting strategic direction now, we ensure that action to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems continues at pace, and that Wales is well placed to deliver against future targets and indicators as they come into force.

In demonstrating our commitment to the GBF, we have adopted the vision of the Global Biodiversity Framework:

By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people”,

The NRAP sets out actions the Welsh Ministers will take to contribute to achieving this vision.

Our six strategic aims have been developed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, while maintaining and enhancing biodiversity and strengthening ecosystem resilience, in line with the duty in section 6 (1) of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

They build on the six objectives of the 2015 NRAP, align with the CBD and the GBF, and recognise that action must address both the ecological and wider socio-economic drivers of biodiversity loss. 

Aim 1: Protect, restore and effectively manage ecosystems to build their resilience

Biodiverse ecosystems that are resilient to human-induced pressures provide the services that underpin our well-being and prosperity. In Wales, many of our habitats have been modified but our remaining semi-natural habitats are ecologically degraded, species-poor, fragmented, and lack connectivity which compromises their resilience and ability to support biodiversity. To reverse this, we must take action to protect remaining habitats, restore degraded areas, and effectively manage ecosystems in ways that build resilience to climate change, pollution, and other human pressures. By doing so, we can halt biodiversity loss and ensure that ecosystems continue to provide the essential services people and nature depend on.

Aim 2: Safeguard species and create space for species to flourish  

Increase the abundance of species and reduce their extinction risk. Although some extinctions are the result of natural processes, human actions are the primary driver of species extinctions in Wales. The global increase in extinction and extinction risk is also contributing to the decline of genetic diversity which is critical for the long-term stability, adaptability and resilience of species populations, supporting their continued provision of nature’s contributions to people and underpinning community wellbeing.

Aim 3: Tackle key pressures on species, habitats and ecosystems

Unsustainable land management practices, such as land use change, loss of habitat, pollution and invasive non-native species in addition to climate change are key pressures leading to ecosystem degradation and biodiversity decline in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. These pressures have changed the extent, connectivity and quality of habitats and the species they can support and therefore it is vital to anticipate, prevent and mitigate the causes of biodiversity loss at source. 

Aim 4: Establish effective governance and capacity to deliver  

Placing nature at the centre of decision making is essential to address the underlying cause of biodiversity loss.

Underpinning our action, we need to ensure that the right structures, personnel and functions are in place to guide, support, and implement nature recovery at all levels from national strategy to local delivery.

We need to put in place resourcing (both human and monetary) to achieve our nature recovery objectives. We need to utilise funding sources imaginatively and innovatively and develop new mechanisms. However, we also need to recognise the importance and value of biodiversity and embed these values into decision making at an early stage. 

Aim 5: Embed biodiversity through engagement and awareness raising to support effective decision making at every level

Biodiversity considerations should be integrated into decision making, so that the value of biodiversity is recognised, accounted for and acted on at an early stage. Organisations should consider biodiversity and ecosystems in everything they do from developing policies, plans, and projects to making everyday decisions so that nature is consistently valued and protected across all areas of work.

Underpinning this, to aid decision making there needs to be a major effort to improve understanding and raise awareness of the importance and value of our nature and biodiversity across Wales

Aim 6: Improve our evidence and monitoring  

We need to strengthen Wales’ biodiversity evidence base by improving the collection, accessibility, and application of high-quality data to inform the biodiversity policy, planning and decision-making process. This includes enhancing monitoring programmes, promoting citizen science, and supporting cross-sector collaboration. Effective monitoring will also underpin decision making to enable an adaptive management approach required to deliver resilient ecosystems

This section sets out a range of actions the Welsh Government will and are taking across our operations, policy development, procurement, land and sea management and wider decision‑making processes to ensure that biodiversity is embedded from the outset. For example, Welsh Government actions span legislation, funding programmes, partnerships, and estate management aiming to deliver significant benefits for biodiversity, often alongside climate, wellbeing and community outcomes. 

Together, these actions support a consistent, proactive and evidence‑based approach to meeting our responsibilities and help us contribute to meeting the aims of the NRAP.

Tackling the dual nature and climate emergencies in Wales demands collective action across the whole of government and the whole of society. The GBF sets a clear international direction: reversing biodiversity loss is only possible when all sectors, communities and institutions work together toward shared goals. 

Wales has reinforced this principle by introducing a new duty in the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill (awaiting Royal Assent) requiring the Welsh Ministers to promote public awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the threats it faces—recognising that meaningful progress depends not just on legislation, but on broad societal understanding, engagement and ownership. Delivering change at the scale required means aligning policies, mobilising communities, empowering businesses, and ensuring everyone plays a part. Only through coordinated, collective effort can Wales accelerate action, build resilience, and secure a future where both climate and nature are safeguarded for generations to come.

Follow the links to the corresponding actions for each aim

• Aim 1: Protect, restore and effectively manage ecosystems to build their resilience
• Aim 2: Safeguard species and create space for species to flourish  
• Aim 3: Tackle key pressures on species, habitats and ecosystems. 
• Aim 4: Establish effective governance and capacity to deliver  
• Aim 5: Embed biodiversity through engagement and awareness raising to support effective decision making at every level
• Aim 6: Improve our evidence and monitoring  

Aim 1: Protect, restore, and effectively manage ecosystems to build their resilience

Alignment with GBF targets 

• 2: restore 30% of all degraded ecosystems 
• 3: conserve 30% of land, waters and seas 
• 10: enhance biodiversity and sustainability in agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, and forestry 
• 11: maintain and enhance nature’s contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services 
• 12: enhance green spaces and urban planning for human well-being and biodiversity

Restoring,  protecting and effectively managing our habitats

• we will transform our protected sites series so that it is better, bigger and more effectively connected. We will do this by expanding and accelerating our Nature Networks programme to help improve the condition and connectivity of our protected sites and make them more resilient to climate change
• we will review the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) series to inform an accelerated notification programme aligned with the Nature Networks programme. In the longer term we will embark on an ambitious programme of protected site designations with an accelerated notification process to strengthen nature networks, prioritising those areas where the need has already been identified
• we will recognise areas outside the protected sites network that contribute to the 30by30 target by awarding them Naturfa status, celebrating and rewarding outstanding stewardship of nature by communities across Wales
• we will strengthen our approach to ecosystem restoration, helping to deliver the vision set out in our 30by30 framework for Wales. This includes recognising and supporting a network of sites on restoration pathway towards the 30by30 target
• to support this we will continue to work with partners to deliver a suite of practical, evidence-based tools to support delivery of Wales’ 30by30 framework including continued development and prototyping of the Naturfa assessment tool and the establishment of a community of practice. The co-designed tool  will help landowners, local authorities, community groups, and other organisations understand whether their sites may be suitable for Naturfa status or for the Naturfa pathway drawing on learning from the Biodiversity Deep Dive (on biodiversitywales.org.uk) and international best practice (on iucn.org)
• we will expand and scale-up our Nature Networks programme to improve the condition, connectivity and resilience of protected sites and the priority ecological networks between them – supporting delivery of both Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 3 and Target 2
• we will further develop and publish our Nature Networks maps, to provide the spatial evidence base required to inform the targeting and delivery of actions contributing to GBF Targets 2 and 3

Target development

• we will introduce draft regulations for Senedd approval that set both a short and a long-term target to drive action towards effective management of ecosystems as required by the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets)(Wales) Bill (soon to become act), and lay a draft of these regulations before the Senedd within two years of Royal Assent of the act

Peatlands 

• we have tripled our peatland restoration targets from 600 to 1,800 ha per annum and will increase the delivery capacity of the National Peatland Action Programme so that by 2030 the programme will be delivering at a scale capable of reaching the net zero 2050 target of 45,000 ha of peatland restored

Woodlands

• we will deliver a National Forest for Wales, which includes new areas of community woodlands in urban and rural areas. These will help to reduce people’s exposure to air pollution
• we have developed a timber-based industrial strategy that can develop and sustain the high value production and processing of Welsh wood
• we will encourage good forest design and sustainable management that makes a positive contribution to the character and quality of the landscape, improves the biodiversity value of the forests, and secures wider benefits, such as flood risk management 
• Prosperity for all: a climate conscious Wales: this sets out a plan and progress actions to be taken including delivering woodland creation in Wales, a design for a National Forest of Wales and delivering more urban ‘green infrastructure’ through nature-based solutions
• we have agreed a tree planting aspiration of 21,500 hectares by 2030 for the Sustainable Farming Scheme and will also work with partners to ensure tree planting is carried out in key urban areas and other key locations to deliver adaptation
• we are developing a woodland management scheme to help landowners improve the condition of existing broadleaf, coniferous and mixed woodlands and bring them into better social, economic and environmental condition

Land management 

• we are committed to bringing real positive change by offering support to landowners through the Sustainable Farming Scheme 2026 with a requirement that a minimum of 10% of each farm is managed as habitat along with the requirement for farms with designated sites to produce a management plan to help bring sites into better condition 
• we will also offer more targeted site-specific opportunities to restore and enhance habitats in the Optional and Collaborative layers of the scheme through initiatives such as Ffermio Bro and the Integrated Natural Resources scheme. 
• Ffermio Bro will continue supporting landscape-scale nature recovery in National Parks and National Landscapes (formally Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), aligning with management plans and strengthening the role of designated landscapes in delivering 30by30

Soils 

• we will continue to co-ordinate and embed best practice for the sustainable management of our soil resources. This will be informed by monitoring trends in carbon stock, a better understanding of the soil resource, the functional importance of soil biodiversity, and trends in and management of macronutrients 

Enabling local delivery 

• we will continue to invest in our Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) to support collaborative partnership approaches at the local level. LNPs bring together organisations, businesses and communities to take collective action to address local priorities
• we will support communities to create 'nature on your doorstep', with a particular focus on urban and peri-urban areas through our Local Places for Nature programme 
• we will deliver actions set out in our Action Plan for Pollinators to promote, create and enhance diverse and connected flowering habitats in our towns, cities and developed areas
• we will continue to deliver the Nature Networks programme which encourages community engagement in helping to improve the condition and connectivity of our protected sites

Marine and fisheries

• we will deliver the Marine Protected Area Network Management Framework for Wales and Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Management Action Plan for Wales to secure ecological coherence across the Marine Protected Area network
• we will secure ecological coherence across our network of MPAs and work to improve the management and condition of the network. The improvement, connectivity and resilience of marine ecosystems is supporting the long-term sustainability of our seas
• we will continue to support key marine habitat restoration along our coastline
• we will complete our network of MPA, to ensure the shortfalls in protection of habitats and features are addressed. This will mean the MPA network is ecologically coherent and connected, improving resilience and condition
• we will undertake a review of the MPA Management Framework, bringing in new evidence and data to ensure it remains an effective management tool 
• we will continue to publish and implement a programme of Fisheries Management Plans as set out in the Joint Fisheries Statement (Joint Fisheries Statement and Fisheries Management Plans) to contribute to the delivery of the 8 fisheries objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020 
• we will use the Welsh National Marine Plan policies to maintain and enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems and the benefits they provide, this includes new marine planning guidance to support the implementation of Marine Plan policy on resilient marine ecosystems and opportunities for ecosystem enhancement and restoration
• we will explore how a marine net benefit approach, requiring biodiversity to be left in a better state following development, might help protect and enhance marine ecosystems
• we will work with NRW and The Crown Estate to increase understanding of key opportunities for ecosystem enhancement, to support implementation of marine planning policy
• we will fund restoration of key coastal habitats such as saltmarsh and seagrass, to improve climate adaptation for marine species, as well as benefits for coastal processes, such as wave dampening and erosion control

Aim 2: Safeguard species and create space for species to flourish

Alignment with GBF targets

• 4: Halt species extinction, protect genetic diversity, and manage human-wildlife conflicts
• 5: Ensure sustainable, safe and legal harvesting and trade of wild species 
• 9: Manage wild species sustainably to benefit people
• 12: Enhance green spaces and urban planning for human well-being and biodiversity

Welsh Government actions 

• Welsh Ministers will prepare and publish an updated list under section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 of the living organisms and types of habitats which in their opinion are of principal importance for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity in relation to Wales. This will replace the current Section 7 list
• we will continue to support initiatives such as the Natur am Byth partnership to deliver projects focussing on species recovery assessments and recovery of Wales’ most endangered species populations. The Natur am Byth partnership targets the recovery of some of our most endangered species in Wales
• we made the Beavers (Wales) Order 2026, which granted additional legal protection for beavers to strengthen our commitment to a managed, evidence-based reintroduction of Eurasian beavers in Wales. We are developing a Welsh Beaver Strategy, supported and informed by the Wales Beaver Forum, which has been established to provide expert advice on management and to coordinate meaningful stakeholder engagement
• we will continue to assess opportunities for other species reintroductions or reinforcements where ecological need, public benefit, and scientific evidence align

Targets 

• we will introduce draft regulations for Senedd approval that set both a short and a long-term target to drive action to reduce the risk of extinction of native species as required by the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets)(Wales) Bill (soon to become Act) and lay a draft of these regulations before the Senedd within two years of Royal Assent of the act. Further, all targets that will be set must contribute to halting and reversing the decline in biodiversity or restoring biodiversity to resilient levels, in particular through one or more of; increasing the abundance of native species; enhancing the resilience of ecosystems, or increasing genetic diversity

Marine   

• we will deliver against recommendations identified in the Welsh Seabird Conservation Strategy to improve seabird populations in Wales addressing key pressures and threats
• we will continue to support key marine habitat restoration along our coastline

Fisheries

• we will finalise the structured evaluation of potential fishing gear interactions with features of Marine Protected Areas. These assessments will be used to inform the implementation of Fisheries Management Plans to ensure long-term sustainability
• we will prepare and publish Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), in accordance with the Joint Fisheries Statement (Annex A sets out the full list of FMPs to be published): Joint Fisheries Statement and Fisheries Management Plans. The prime focus of all FMPs will be achieving the long-term, sustainable harvesting of our stocks. FMPs are documents which explain how governments in the UK will manage specific fisheries so that they remain or become sustainable. Depending on species /sea areas there is a mix of joint and individual FMPs

Pollinators

• we will continue to support the delivery of the Action Plan for Pollinators which endeavours to provide diverse and connected flower-rich habitats and raise awareness of their importance and management for pollinators. The Action Plan for Pollinator Taskforce works to deliver this plan. We will support the taskforce by providing a secretariat, contributing to subgroups where requested, and delivering the Bee Friendly scheme
• we will deliver the Healthy Bees Plan 2030 (Healthy honey bees) by strengthening biosecurity, improving knowledge exchange, and supporting beekeepers to develop the skills needed for healthy, resilient honey bee populations in Wales. We will also continue to fund the National Bee Unit to drive better husbandry, inspection, and disease management across Wales

Aim 3: Tackle key pressures on species, habitats and ecosystems

Alignment with GBF Targets

• 6: Reduce the introduction of invasive alien species by 50% and minimise their impact
• 7: Reduce pollution to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity
• 8: Minimise the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and build resilience
• 16: Enable sustainable consumption choices to reduce waste and overconsumption
• 17: Strengthen biosafety and distribute the benefits of biotechnology

Sustainable management of Natural Resources

• we will encourage good forest design and sustainable management that makes a positive contribution to the character and quality of the landscape, improves the biodiversity value of the forests, and secures wider benefits, such as flood risk management
• we will improve the outdated drainage systems across Wales, with an emphasis on sustainable, nature-based drainage in our urban areas. This will include new frameworks for new development and incentivising natural interventions in areas of pressure by water, sewerage and drainage authorities. This will both increase green areas and resilience to changes in our climate
• we have included catchment-based approaches and nature-based solutions in our management of water bodies through guidance for water utility companies
• we will integrate nature-based solutions into the planning and development of new transport related infrastructure
• we will promote guidance and best practice to local authorities and urban planners to better design urban tree planting and plant species which maximise benefits by reducing people’s exposure to air pollution

Invasive non-native species 

• we will reduce the number of establishments of invasive non-native species (INNS) by at least 50% by 2030, compared to levels seen in 2000, in line with a key action set out in the Invasive non-native species strategy
• we will deliver the commitments outlined in the Great Britain Invasive non-native species strategy which commits England, Scotland and Wales to:
  • reduce establishments of INNS by at least 50% compared to 2000 levels (prevention) 
  • significantly improve our detection and monitoring capability, including increasing inspections and investigations (surveillance, early detection and monitoring)
  • eradicate, control or contain INNS – prioritised by greatest impact and the likelihood of success (eradicate)
  • set out an agreed approach to the prioritisation of species based on risk and likelihood of success to ensure our efforts are focussed to where they can achieve the greatest benefit (prioritisation and risk analysis)
  • increase awareness of INNS issues and promote appropriate changes in behaviour or attitudes throughout all relevant sectors and among the general public

Plant health 

• we will implement and deliver the action plan set out in the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain 2023 to 2028 to address our nations plant biosecurity to:
  • further develop the UK Plant Health Risk Register to improve our understanding of complex and cumulative risks where relevant to invasive species
  • keep existing contingency plans under review and develop further pest-specific contingency plans including for invasive species
  • develop a generic outbreak communications plan, and continue to hold an annual National Plant Health Week, to include invasive alien species
  • strengthen and enhance the core research and surveillance programmes for plant health relevant to invasive species

Reducing pollution 

• we will update our Natural Resources Policy which sets out Welsh Government policies to deliver the sustainable management of natural resources. This will include actions to reduce the pressures such as pollution impacting biodiversity and ecosystems
• we will work with the farming community to implement the The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 to target activities known to cause pollution
• we will continue to implement The Clean Air Plan for Wales (2020) which aims to reduce the impacts of air pollution on human health, biodiversity, the natural environment and our economy
• we will implement measures set out in The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021: guidance for farmers and land managers to improve water quality and protect nature from agricultural pollution
• we have included catchment-based approaches and nature-based solutions in our management of water bodies through guidance for water utility companies
• we will improve the outdated drainage systems across Wales, with an emphasis on sustainable, nature-based drainage in our urban areas. This will include new frameworks for new development and incentivising natural interventions in areas of pressure by water, sewerage and drainage authorities. This will both increase green areas and resilience to changes in our climate

Improving air quality

• the national air quality strategy, the Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales, sets out our ambitions and the actions we will take to improve air quality and reduce the impacts of air pollution on human health, biodiversity, the natural environment and the economy. The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 builds on commitments made in the strategy to better protect people in Wales against the adverse effects of air and noise pollution
• we will promote guidance and best practice to local authorities and urban planners to better design urban tree planting and plant species which maximise benefits by reducing people’s exposure to air pollution

Targets 

• we will introduce draft regulations for Senedd approval that set a statutory target to drive action to reduce pollution as required by the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets)(Wales) Bill (soon to become Act) and lay a draft of these regulations before the Senedd within two years of Royal Assent of the act

Reducing waste 

• we will reduce the amount of waste produced by households, businesses and the public sector to move to a circular, low carbon economy
• we will set ambitious targets to deliver a circular economy and prevention will be at its core
• we will build on the cultural change that has already happened in Wales so that unnecessary waste is prevented, products are re-used and repair and remanufacturing are a core part of our society
• we will strive to achieve the highest rates of recycling in the world by working with local government, businesses, social enterprises and communities to take the next steps in reducing waste and becoming a truly advanced recycling nation

Circular economy 

• we will deliver our Beyond recycling strategy  which aims to make the circular economy in Wales a reality, reducing unsustainable consumption, keeping resources in use for as long as possible, cutting emissions, and supporting a green and just recovery

Planning 

• we will continue to implement Planning policy Wales in relation to local authority green infrastructure strategies and Net Benefits for Biodiversity (NBB). Planning Policy Wales includes Chapter 6 ‘Distinctiveness and Natural Places’ which links together accessible and high-quality green space, physical and mental well-being and resilient biodiversity and ecosystems. It sets out Green Infrastructure Assessments (on naturalresourceswales.gov.uk) which all planning authorities must undertake. By considering the interactions between the built and the natural environment, it is possible to develop in a way that not only avoids damaging the environment but enhances it, and can also help to ensure that the benefits that we get from the natural environment will be delivered to the places that need them
• we will plan the development of green infrastructure at the heart of our communities to deliver space for recreation, transport corridors for cycling and walking, resilience against flooding and heat, and provide important spaces for nature
• we will integrate nature-based solutions into the planning and development of new transport related infrastructure
• we will ensure our communities benefit from healthy environments, by identifying opportunities to take actions that improve respiratory conditions, inactivity and mental health. These include increasing green space and tree cover, and improving public access to green infrastructure. We will support communities to improve places where they live and work, tackling local environmental issues such as litter and fly tipping which affects mental and physical health

Climate

• we will continue to implement and develop Welsh Government Net Zero strategic plan which sets out our journey to achieve net zero by 2050. The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 requires the Welsh Government to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in Wales to net zero for the year 2050 through a series of carbon budgets
• we will review approaches and methodologies to consider climate change pressures during the next marine planning period. We will examine opportunities to further develop our marine planning framework and to help us consider whether aligning marine planning with climate smart principles could provide greater direction for development, while supporting ecosystem resilience
• we will continue to support the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership to understand the major climate impacts and review and prioritise actions to address them
• the Development Bank of Wales has committed to support Net Zero and climate adaptation targets. This includes the launch of the Bank’s Green Business Loan scheme providing Welsh businesses with a package of support to help them reduce carbon emissions and save on future energy bills
• we will implement the actions for nature as set out in our updated Climate Adaptation Strategy for Wales 2024
• we will restore peatlands and enable them to capture and store carbon, as well as regulate greenhouse gases

Estate management 

• we will continue to expand waste‑reduction initiatives, improve signage, and encourage staff participation to reduce environmental impacts
• we will continue renewing Waterwise Checkmark accreditation across our estate. This involves ongoing improvements to water‑efficient fixtures, leak detection, staff awareness campaigns, waterless urinals and monitoring of water use to reduce consumption and waste
• we will continue to install and maintain living walls, raised beds, ponds, and wildlife structures (hedgehog houses, bird, apiaries and bat boxes) across Welsh Government offices. These features provide year‑round habitat, increase pollinator foraging opportunities, and improve ecological connectivity within urban settings
• we will continue to reduce mowing regimes to allow wildflower growth, supporting pollinators and invertebrates
• we will use a Waste Electrical and Electronic provider which is an authorised, approved treatment facility for recycling of electrical equipment
• we will strengthen biodiversity outcomes through procurement by embedding sustainability risk assessment, new regulations under the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, and continued alignment with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

Aim 4:  Establish effective governance and capacity to deliver 

Alignment with GBF targets

• 14: Integrate biodiversity in decision-making at every Level
• 15: Businesses assess, disclose and reduce biodiversity-related risks and negative impacts 
• 18: Reduce harmful incentives and scale up positive incentives for biodiversity
• 19: Substantially and progressively increase the level of financial resources from all sources

Governance 

• we will ensure that we have the mechanisms to ensure appropriate robust governance is in place to oversee the delivery of the NRAP actions

Funding 

• we will continue to support Nature Recovery through funded programmes of work to include: Sustainable Farming Scheme, Nature Networks Programme, National Peatlands Action Programme, Natur am Byth, Local Places for Nature, Ffermio Bro and the Integrated Natural Resources Scheme

Sustainable finance

• we recognise that taking effective action to tackle the nature emergency will require adequate funding. We will take action to identify appropriate funding sources and the government interventions that may be needed to ensure these deliver for the benefit of Wales by:
• we will implement and deliver the action plan set out in the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain 2023 to 2028 to address our nations plant biosecurity to:
  • developing a clear policy position on private investment in nature recovery, identifying the potential opportunities and anticipating the risks, including where these could be mitigated by appropriate government interventions to drive action and decision making in accordance with our Sustainable Investment Principles
  • ensure government grants and subsidies align with the Well-being and Future Generations Act and sustainable investment principles to ensure public funding benefits nature rather than unintentionally harming it
  • supporting the MARINE Fund Cymru to bring in private finance for habitat restoration in the marine and coastal environment, contributing to the marine component of ‘30by30’, and exploring the role of Marine Net Benefit
  • supporting the development of UK standards and codes for the design and operation of UK nature markets
• in the longer term, we will increase public investment in nature’s recovery by ensuring the response to the nature emergency is integrated across government departments
• Welsh Government recognises the role of the financial services industry in supporting the investment required for Wales to play its role in delivering the UK’s net zero targets and biodiversity action. It is committed to ensuring that investment supports a just transition in Wales and as such is working in partnership to identify appropriate financing models, coordinate and deliver investment for Net Zero Wales and the ‘30 by 30’ biodiversity target. Some key actions being taken include:
  • supporting financial disclosures and accounting in Wales through the delivery of innovation and digital strategies
  • continuing the Welsh Government Energy Service facilitation of project financing for public sector, community energy and decarbonisation schemes
  • establishment of Sector and Regional Funds and Boards, with examples including the Economy Futures Fund, Circular Economy Fund, City Region Deals, Net Zero Industry Wales and Woodland Financing Group
  • contributing to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) by developing an action plan to deliver the ‘30 by 30’ biodiversity target, including consideration of statutory biodiversity targets, ethical and transparent private investment in nature recovery
  • commitment of the Development Bank of Wales to support net zero and climate adaptation targets. This includes the launch of the bank’s Green Business Loan Scheme providing Welsh businesses with a package of support to help them reduce carbon emissions and save on future energy bills

Working with business 

• we will ensure plans to scale up nature finance have a phased approach to implementation developed whilst engaging with key business representatives
• we will develop guidance on nature markets, assessing nature-related financial risks to businesses and the wider nature finance space to support business participation in this growing market
• we will support a community of practice and knowledge sharing nature finance forum for stakeholders including businesses by hosting in person events for businesses to attend
• we will support the Wales Coasts and Seas Partnership to deliver enabling actions to improve the resilience of the marine environment:
  • an Ocean Literacy Strategy to develop understanding of our impacts on the marine environment and how everyone can contribute to its resilience
  • a long-term blue investment fund to support marine resilience actions
  • building capacity nationally and in local communities to engage on and implement marine resilience actions

Aim 5: Embed biodiversity through engagement and awareness raising to support effective decision making at every level

Alignment with GBF targets

• 14: Integrate biodiversity in decision-making at every level
• 20: Strengthen capacity-building, technology transfer, and scientific and technical cooperation for biodiversity
• 21: Ensure that knowledge is available and accessible to guide biodiversity action 
• 22: Ensure participation in decision-making and access to justice and information related to biodiversity for all
• 23: Ensure gender equality and a gender-responsive approach for biodiversity action

Embedding biodiversity - Supporting other public authorities to embed biodiversity

• we will produce new guidance and refresh existing guidance to take into account the provisions of the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity) (Wales) Bill
• we will continue to promote the duty under section 6(1) of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, which requires public authorities to seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity, and in so doing promote the resilience of ecosystems, in the exercise of their functions in Wales, and encourage the embedding of biodiversity considerations  for public authorities in the exercise of their functions

Promote awareness

• we will work with stakeholders to develop a programme of actions to underpin the Welsh Ministers’ new duty to promote awareness of, and threats to, biodiversity in Wales, which will be introduced through the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill
• we will include actions to tackle the nature emergency into the overall climate change behaviour change programme
• we will improve education and awareness of the nature and climate emergency and actions individuals and organisations can take
• we will increase citizen involvement and participation in actions to address the nature and climate emergencies, building on the Natur a Ni programme, (and the People's Plan for Nature)
• we will further embed biodiversity across policy areas through integrated impact assessments requiring all policy areas to consider biodiversity when they are developing programmes

Enabling action

• we will continue to invest in our LNPs to support collaborative partnership approaches at the local level. LNPs bring together organisations, businesses and communities to take collective action to address local priorities
• we will continue to update and use our statutory Area Statements (on Natural Resources Wales) to guide our place-based actions to deliver the priorities identified in our Natural Resources Policy. In addition, we will further develop and publish our Nature Networks maps which provide spatial guidance for the delivery of GBF targets 2 and 3
• we will work with planning authorities and stakeholders to pilot strategic guidance for Policy 9 of Future Wales, promoting green infrastructure and resilient ecological networks. We will also deliver the net benefit for biodiversity approach set out in Planning Policy Wales, using the DECCA Framework and strengthened protection for SSSIs
• we will support the Wales Coasts and Seas Partnership to deliver enabling actions to improve the resilience of the marine environment:
  • Implementing ‘Y Mor a Ni’, the national Ocean Literacy Strategy, to develop understanding of our impacts on the marine environment and how everyone can contribute to its resilience
  • building capacity nationally and in local communities to engage on and implement marine resilience actions

Knowledge and skills

• we will expand and enhance capacity and capability building schemes to support the public, third and private sectors to accelerate delivery for nature recovery. This will include a focus on financial resilience and investment readiness
• we will make available the Naturewise course for Welsh Government staff, helping them to understand between people and nature and actions that help biodiversity
• we will continue to support the Wales Biodiversity Partnership to promote and raise awareness of biodiversity

Aim 6: Improve our evidence and monitoring 

Alignment with GBF targets

• 1: Plan and manage all areas to reduce biodiversity loss 
• 21: Ensure that knowledge is available and accessible to guide biodiversity action

Modelling and scenarios

• we will develop scenarios to test target ambition and then seek to model the outputs to shape future delivery

Targets 

• we will introduce draft regulations for Senedd approval that set a statutory target to drive action regarding the quality of evidence to inform decisions relating to biodiversity, access to that evidence and its use and application as required by the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill (soon to become Act), and lay a draft of these regulations before the Senedd within two years of Royal Assent of the Act

Monitoring, evaluation and review

• we will continue to report against a set of National Milestones - National indicators and national milestones for Wales, including to reverse the decline in biodiversity with an improvement in the status of species and ecosystems by 2030 and their clear recovery by 2050. This is supported by an indicator on the status of priority species in Wales and another on the extent of healthy ecosystems
• we will continue to review and report on the effects of policies in the Welsh National Marine Plan and their effectiveness at securing the plan objectives
• we will continue to monitor and report our delivery against the GBF and report into the subsequent 8th National Report, which will be prepared in conjunction with the UK Government
• we will create a monitoring and evaluation framework as set out in our new Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill to underpin development and delivery of the NRAP programmes and our biodiversity targets
• 30by30 - we will work with JNCC to develop/adapt the Management Effectiveness of Protected and Conserved Areas Indicator (on jncc.gov.uk) for assessing how effectively protected areas and Naturfa sites are managed in Wales
• we will continue to work with JNCC on the development and reporting of UK biodiversity indicators
• we will carry out an evaluation of the Local environment record centres

The list below correlates the six NRAP aims with the GBF targets.

By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people

Aim 1: Protect, restore and effectively manage ecosystems to build their resilience

Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: 2030 targets (on Convention on Biological Diversity):

• 2: Restore 30% of all degraded ecosystems
• 3: Conserve 30% of land, waters and seas
• 10: Enhance biodiversity and sustainability in agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry
• 11: Enhance biodiversity and sustainability in agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry
• 12: Enhance green spaces and urban planning for human well-being and biodiversity

Aim 2: Safeguard species and create space for species to flourish 

Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: 2030 targets (on Convention on Biological Diversity):

• 4: Halt species extinction, protect genetic diversity, and manage human-wildlife conflicts
• 5: Ensure sustainable, safe and legal harvesting and trade of wild species 
• 9: Manage wild species sustainably to benefit people
• 12: Enhance green spaces and urban planning for human well-being and biodiversity

Aim 3: Tackle key pressures on species, habitats and ecosystems

Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: 2030 targets (on Convention on Biological Diversity):

• 6: Reduce the introduction of invasive alien species by 50% and minimise their impact
• 7: Reduce pollution to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity
• 8: Minimise the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and build resilience
• 16: Enable sustainable consumption choices to reduce waste and overconsumption
• 17: Strengthen biosafety and distribute the benefits of biotechnology

Aim 4: Establish effective governance and capacity to deliver 

Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: 2030 targets (on Convention on Biological Diversity):

• 14: Integrate biodiversity in decision-making at every Level
• 15: Businesses assess, disclose and reduce biodiversity-related risks and negative impacts 
• 18: Reduce harmful incentives and scale up positive incentives for biodiversity
• 19: Substantially and progressively increase the level of financial resources from all sources

Aim 5: Embed biodiversity through engagement and awareness raising to support effective decision making at every level

Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: 2030 targets (on Convention on Biological Diversity):

• 14: Integrate biodiversity in decision-making at every level
• 20: Strengthen capacity-building, technology transfer, and scientific and technical cooperation for biodiversity
• 21: Ensure that knowledge is available and accessible to guide biodiversity action
• 22: Ensure participation in decision-making and access to justice and information related to biodiversity for all
• 23: Ensure gender equality and a gender-responsive approach for biodiversity action

Aim 6: Improve our evidence and monitoring 

Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: 2030 targets (on Convention on Biological Diversity):

• 1: Plan and manage all areas to reduce biodiversity loss
• 21: Ensure that knowledge is available and accessible to guide biodiversity action