Welsh Government Biodiversity Targets Advisory Panel meeting: 13 February 2026

The Chair welcomed Panel members to the meeting. He thanked members who had submitted written advice ahead of the meeting on the evidence target topics options, and the light pollution and excess nutrient target topics.

The objectives of the meeting were for the Panel to advise on:

• the evidence target topic options presented
• the light pollution target topic 
• the excess nutrients target topic and appropriate metric 
• Cost Benefit Analysis ‘benefits of biodiversity’

Officials provided a brief update on target topics and metrics. The Panel were updated on the advancement of modelling work, indicator development, and metric selection for biodiversity targets, highlighting ongoing collaborations with JNCC and NRW. 

For the priority area ‘quality of evidence to inform decisions relating to biodiversity, access to that evidence, and its use and application’ four possible target topics options were identified: protected sites condition assessments, species occurrence records, spatial opportunity mapping, and continuing professional development for those in leadership positions. The pros and cons considered by officials were presented to the Panel. 

Wales should set clear, outcome‑focused biodiversity targets that work across whole landscapes and align with wider UK approaches for species that cross borders and migrate. The Panel supports a statutory target on protected site condition assessments, centred on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and including Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) - with the addition of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) and the Natura network to cover the full 30x30 ambition. Assessments should use flexible, evolving methods, capture ecosystem services and wildlife inside and beyond protected sites, and act as a trigger for targeted action and improved connectivity that drives nature recovery. By contrast, a statutory target based on species record counts is not recommended due to the risk of biased data collection; instead, Wales should strengthen the quality and coverage of evidence by investing in taxonomic training, fair weighting across land, freshwater, marine and soil biodiversity, and by prioritising Welsh data platforms (e.g., Aderyn) and the long‑standing Local Environmental Records Centres (LERCs). Officials should consider why Resilient Ecological Network mapping is valuable as a statutory target rather than simply a decision‑support tool - to be integrated with area statements and community insight. Continued Professional Development is important for skills and a Just Transition, but is unlikely to deliver direct biodiversity outcomes as a statutory target; effort should focus on inclusive degree‑level pathways and training delivered in Wales (for example, through a National Nature Service) that retains skills locally. Clear public communication of indicators and coordinated action across borders will be essential to halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Following stakeholder interest and potential ease of implementation a light pollution target was being reconsidered under the ‘Reducing Pollution’ priority area, alongside excess nutrients. Officials presented on the results of the literature review that has been conducted internally and requested any further evidence from the Panel and advice on the inclusion of the target topic. 

The Panel noted that light pollution is an increasing pressure on Wales’s biodiversity but expressed concern over data gaps - particularly differences between marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Members questioned whether stronger cross‑border learning could help, though approaches in Scotland and in England tend to prioritise people rather than wildlife. With Wales’s new Dark Skies Guidance already in place, the Panel asked whether statutory regulation is necessary or whether improved implementation would be enough. They recommended that lighting impacts be considered more explicitly in decision‑making, potentially using principles applied in protected landscapes to balance ecological, social and safety needs. Any approach would need sensitive public communication, avoiding the perception that lights are being reduced for cost‑cutting rather than to protect nature; evidence from Eryri demonstrates that well‑designed lighting can improve safety. While a statutory target on light pollution may be less essential than other pollution priorities, the Panel suggested exploring options alongside nutrient targets, ensuring “dark skies” also include “dark seas”, and drawing on Wales’s Just Transition commitments. A well‑designed approach could offer benefits for nature, communities and public spending, and should build on earth‑observation data and local authority initiatives already underway.

Officials highlighted the complexity of this target topic in terms of positioning in and around current legislation. The shortlisted indicators officials have selected represent the system as a whole, from source to sea as well as different sectors. The Sustainable Land Management indicators in development have been included as well as marine, and air deposition targets.

The Panel recommended a holistic approach to reducing excess nutrients, using multiple indicators that reflect how air, land and water systems interact. They noted that measuring the pollution loads entering coastal and tidal waters could act as a useful overarching indicator, but metrics must account for the different nutrient thresholds across terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. Members highlighted additional evidence sources - such as European Marine Site condition data, OSPAR river‑inputs monitoring, UK Biodiversity Indicators, and citizen science contributions - and stressed the need to address gaps, particularly for small water bodies that are not covered by water‑company data. The Panel discussed nitrogen and ammonia pollution, noting that Wales could consider setting limits at the point of emission as well as at the point of deposition, and that decisions should be informed by clear source‑attribution evidence. They also emphasised that freshwater condition depends not only on nutrients but also sediment, habitat structure and invasive species, which should remain aligned with wider UK frameworks. Given the emergence of new pollutants, such as PFAS, the Panel advised that a reducing pollution target should not lag behind standards set in other UK nations. Clear communication will be essential to avoid the misconception that targets focus solely on farming when wastewater and urban sources are also significant contributors. 

Targets must be accompanied by a full CBA under the Government of Wales Act. Officials plan to commission the CBA to an external contractor, and the specification was being drafted. The Panel asked for advice on what to include in the specification.

The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act framework includes the following areas:

1. Environmental – resilience, ecosystem services, climate adaptation
2. Economic – tourism, natural resources, avoided future costs
3. Social – health, mental wellbeing, community cohesion
4. Cultural – heritage, landscape connections, identity

The biodiversity targets have the potential to contribute to each of these four areas, and so these might be a useful framework for providing to an external contractor when they consider the benefits of the targets. Further detail was provided on the areas and the Panel were asked for specific benefits they would like to see.

It was advised that further subtext was provided to those potential benefits to understand what that means across land, water, and sea. The social area should be scrutinised further and developed in line with Public Health Wales. There are some good indicators and some good data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). ONS produces quite a lot of data along these categories, and Welsh data is available from Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD). 

A brief Sustainable Land Management (SLM) update was given:

• SLM targets were laid in December; many relevant indicators were left “in development” to avoid overlap with biodiversity targets and work is ongoing between policy officials to ensure coherent frameworks are developed

The Chair thanked the Panel for their input and challenges on the target topics and encouraged additional written feedback. The next meeting will be 19 June 2026.