Natural Resources Bulletin - August 2017 - Issue 20

August 2017 • Issue 20

In this edition:

Wales' recycling success
Natural Resources Policy
Post-Brexit Wales poll
August Highlights
Events and opportunities
Consultations

Wales has bin recycling even more

Wales’ impressive recycling performance shows no sign of diminishing as latest figures reveal we now recycle, reuse or compost 64% of our waste, up from the previous year’s rate of 60%. Read more

National priorities announced in Natural Resources Policy

Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths recently published her new Natural Resources Policy (NRP), the second major milestone in the implementation of the ground-breaking Environment (Wales) Act. Read more

Take our quick post-Brexit Wales poll

We would like to hear your views on future government support for the Welsh countryside and our agricultural industry. We want to hear from all kinds of people – not just those who work within the agriculture or land-management sectors. There are eight questions in this anonymous poll, and it should take around 2 minutes to complete. Take part here

August Highlights

Plans to halve Wales’ food waste

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths has announced ambitious plans to halve food waste in Wales by 2025. Wales has made significant progress in recent years in reducing the amount of food we unnecessarily throw away. Read more

Welsh Seafood makes waves at 'Food Oscars’

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has praised the impact of the Welsh Government-backed Welsh Seafood Cluster after four of its members received prestigious Great Taste Awards. Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is the acknowledged benchmark for fine food and drink and has often been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the food world. Read more

Encourage your children to take part in the Home #RecyclingChallenge

A Home Recycling Challenge, run by our delivery partners Recycle for Wales, invites Welsh children to become recycling heroes, whilst also being in with a chance to win prizes! 'Wastebusters' was launched by TV presenters Gethin Jones and Maddie Moate. Read more

Lesley Griffiths wishes pollinator scheme Hap-bee Birthday

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, recently celebrated a successful first year for the Bee Friendly scheme, a national initiative aimed at encouraging more people to help pollinators, when she visited St Peter’s Community Gardens in Cardiff to present them with a Bee Friendly certificate. Read more

Microbeads Ban in Wales

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has agreed to implement a ban on the manufacture and sale of cosmetics and personal care products containing plastic microbeads in Wales, through Welsh secondary legislation. Read more

Welsh Government Teams Up With Seafood Cluster to Scope Out Chinese Market in Shanghai

The Welsh Government's Marine and Fisheries Division recently joined forces with the Seafood Cluster to promote Welsh seafood at the World Seafood Exhibition, Shanghai (SIFSE). The visit was also a great opportunity for the team to assess markets and uncover opportunities for the Welsh seafood industry ahead of Brexit. Read more

Take a look at our social media activity from SIFSE on Storify

Make the most of every opportunity to operate in a more efficient and environmentally-friendly way

Lesley Griffiths is encouraging farmers across Wales to take advantage of Welsh Government funding and support designed to help make their businesses more efficient, resilient and environmentally friendly. The Farm Business Grant (FBG) helps farmers to improve the economic and environmental performance of their holdings by providing a 40% contribution towards capital investments in 70 items of equipment and machinery. Read more

Welsh Food and Drink Products Joined Protected Food Name ‘Family’ at Royal Welsh Show

A new batch of food and drink products took to the stage at a range of events showcasing the Welsh Protected Food Name ‘family’ at the 2017 Royal Welsh Show. During the first half of 2017, six new Welsh products were awarded protection under the coveted European Union Protected Food Name (EUPFN) Scheme. Read more

WRAP - Food date labelling consultation and draft guidance

WRAP, the Food Standards Agency and Defra have drafted updated guidance for the use of date labels and related consumer advice. Read more

Welsh National Marine Plan (WNMP)

The Welsh Government is in the final stages of completing a draft Welsh National Marine Plan for consultation in the autumn. Amendments to the Plan have been completed following a wide range of bilateral meetings with policy leads and wider stakeholders.

As Marine Planning is relatively new, it is important to have a clear understanding of the benefits marine users ultimately want to see from the marine planning process in Wales.

A Marine Planning Benefits and Opportunities report has been produced, and an accompanying video.

Events and opportunities

Vacancy - Chair - Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee

The purpose of the Committee is to advise Welsh Ministers on all flood and coastal erosion risk management matters in Wales, including awareness raising, preparation and community resilience to flooding. The chief responsibility of the Chair is to lead the Committee and meet the Committee’s overall responsibilities to provide advice to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs. Learn more and apply here

UK Atlantic Strategy Workshop - Marine Energy: A Driver of the Atlantic Economy

25 September 2017, Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay. The aim of the event is to showcase flagship developments and highlight the potential of the marine energy sector in invigorating coastal economies on the Atlantic seaboard by creating skilled jobs and growth. It will provide a forum for exchanging experiences, ideas and best practice, and to promote cross-border and transnational co-operation. Learn more and register your interest here

Save the date - BlasCymru/TasteWales 2019

20 - 21 March 2019, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. Blas Cymru/TasteWales returns in 2019 to bring together the leading exponents of the food and drink industry in Wales. The event will also provide an opportunity for buyers and producers to develop new business. Learn more and register your interest here

Consultations

Ongoing Consultations

For any queries relating to the Natural Resources Bulletin please email NRBulletin@wales.gsi.gov.uk. If you would like to receive this bulletin in Welsh please click here.

Natural Resources Bulletin

The Natural Resources Bulletin - for the latest legislative and policy updates on the Welsh Government’s commitment to our climate, energy, waste and water and land in ways that will protect our natural environment for future generations.