West Wales puts rivers first with launch of new nutrient management website
A new website has been launched to showcase how a collection of organisations in West Wales are working together to restore the health of its rivers – and how people across the region can get involved.
The website – www.wwnmb.wales – highlights the work of the West Wales Nutrient Management Boards (NMBs), set up to protect the Tywi, Teifi and Cleddau rivers. These three river catchments are Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and are currently failing to meet phosphorus targets, putting precious ecosystems at risk.
Funded by the Welsh Government and led by local authorities in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, the Boards bring together public bodies, utilities, environmental groups and local voices. The aim is to develop long-term solutions that improve water quality while supporting sustainable development.
Gail Pearce-Taylor, Nutrient Management Board Programme Manager Tywi, Teifi and Cleddau river SAC catchments, said: “This website is our way of sharing everything we’ve learned so far and bringing people with us as we build Nutrient Management Plans for the future. The challenge of phosphorus pollution can only be tackled by working together – and that’s what makes these Boards so special.”
The site includes detailed GIS-mapped data, non-technical summaries, resources for landowners and developers, and citizen science findings. People can also find out how to join the NMB stakeholder groups or take part in upcoming consultations.
In a combined statement from the Chairs of the Nutrient Management Board’s for all three rivers, Ceredigion County Councillor Clive Davies, Chair of the Teifi NMB; Carmarthenshire County Councillor Carys Jones, Chair of the Tywi NMB, and Pembrokeshire County Councillor Jacob Williams, Chair of the Cleddau NMB said: “The health of our rivers underpins everything – our wildlife, our economy and our communities. It’s vital that we take a proactive and collaborative approach. This new website gives people the tools and knowledge to be part of the solution.”
For more information, visit: www.wwnmb.wales