Pilot Area
A pilot area for the application of agri-environment measures in Wales
Given that the Cambrian Mountains Landscape Character Area covers some 1970 km2 (197,000 ha), which includes over 850 farming businesses exceeding 10 ha in size, the Cambrian Mountains Ecosystems Group have identified the need to select a River Catchment where it is possible to work with landowners to explore measures that will help to enhance the areas biodiversity, water and carbon management measures. In order to help develop a new catchment scale approach to land management measures, it has been decided that we should start with one of the smaller catchments (approximately 20,000ha), a scoping exercise is currently being undertaken to re-evaluate the catchment selection.
Part of the selection criteria for these catchments has been the possible link identified between land management practices and the Blue Flag status of the beaches in particular at Aberystwyth and Borth. The intention of the group is to explore the relationship between land management practices and diffuse agricultural pollution and see how this impacts on beach classification.
Over the coming months, the group will be concentrating its efforts on gathering more detailed information relating to this pilot area. If there is sufficient base data available then it is proposed that these catchments are utilised. Once the final catchments are selected the process of holding workshops with landowners can begin within the proposed pilot to engage them in discussion about how they feel their farm businesses can help contribute towards delivering biodiversity, water and carbon gains in addition to improving the historic environment.