Welsh Government announce £4.6m flood risk programme
The Welsh Government has announced details of a £4.6m programme to reduce flood risk using nature-based solutions.
The Natural Flood Management Accelerator Programme was confirmed via a joint statement between Climate Change Minister Julie James and Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, Lesley Griffiths.
The Ministers say the two-year programme follows a Programme for Government commitment to deliver nature-based flood management solutions across all major river catchments.
Nature-based solutions
The programme will help Risk Management Authorities work together with Welsh farmers, landowners and third sector organisations on nature-based solutions that reduce flood risk.
It will fund 23 projects across eight different Risk Management Authorities. It is expected to reduce flood risk for around 2,000 properties.
Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “As Wales contends with the growing impacts of climate change and the devastation flooding can inflict, the need to reduce risk to communities now and into the future is more apparent.
“Developing and delivering wider nature-based sustainable solutions to reduce flood risk is critical to protecting and enhancing our environment, homes, and communities.
“Today, we are very pleased to announce the launch of the Natural Flood Management Accelerator Programme.”
Ms James added: “This scheme will build upon our learning from previous successful projects and bring together multiple innovative solutions to develop nature-based solutions through our rural catchments.”
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, Lesley Griffiths, said: “With the support of farmers, foresters, land managers and food businesses we can develop the rural economy and our natural environment in a sustainable way.
“This will further enhance our knowledge and experience in delivering co-ordinated collaborative projects within known flood prone areas.
“Through continued delivery and knowledge gained from schemes like this, we are also reducing instances of pollution, reducing surface water runoff, and encouraging new methods to adapting to a changing climate.
Ms Griffiths added: “We all recognise the need to be more collaborative in our thinking whilst exploring and encouraging new ways of working that will deliver at pace and scale. This investment will allow Risk Management Authorities and local communities to lead on projects and reduce the risk of flooding within their area.”
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UK has spent many generations removing natures protection in the name of farming. Perhaps today’s practices must focus on land management as a climate protection alongside food production. Reintroduction of beavers, limiting grazing to allow trees to grow back. Better management of peat area’s and stopping shooting estates managing land for one purpose only.
Locally in South Wales we have spent time and money deforesting in the name of tree protection from disease. Now death to me is worse than disease. Beautiful wet moss that used to sit under a forest in Cwm Darren, all but gone. And so the valleys are bare again. Where does the water go, whoops.