Environment Research Programme

The research and monitoring programme has the following objectives:

• to provide information to guide the future development of environmental policy in Wales in particular on new legislation and its impact on the environment, taking account of the needs for sustainable development;
• to support implementation of environmental policy to protect and improve the special environmental qualities of Wales; and 
• to provide information to monitor the achievement of environmental goals.

The programme aims to underpin the various environmental action plans being developed to help Wales meet the over-arching objectives of our Welsh Environment Strategy.

Environmental research relevant to Wales is funded mainly by Government Departments and Agencies. These can include:

• Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA);
• Department for Energy & Climate Change (DECC);
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
• Environment Agency (EA); and 
• Countryside Council for Wales (CCW).

Our programme aims to complement this research, ensuring that through collaborative funding and steering of projects, specific Welsh issues are researched adequately.

Current Projects

• Acid Waters Monitoring Network
• Applying UK Climate Projection (UKCP09) Scenarios in Wales
• Environmental Change Network
• Environmental Research Funders Forum
• Greenhouse Gas Inventory
• Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership
• Wales Air Quality Database
• Wales Environment Research Hub
• Welsh Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme.

Completed Projects

• Air Quality Monitoring at Nant-y-Gwyddon Landfill
• Biodiversity Indicators relevant to Agri-environment Schemes and CAP reform
• Climate Change Upland Impacts – Monarch 2 and 3
• Countryside Survey
• ECOSSE 2 - Estimating Carbon in Organic Soils - Sequestration and Emissions
• Effects of Land Management on Soil and Water Quality at Pontbren
• ENVASSO UK - Environmental Assessment of Soil for Monitoring
• Long Term Sewage Sludge Trials
• North Wales Coast - Sea-to-Land Transfer
• Organic Soils as Carbon Sinks
• Private Sewers Consultation
• Regional & Welsh Appraisal of Resource Productivity & Development – Co-ordination and Communication
• Water Framework Directive - Collaborative Research Programme
• Water Framework Directive - Economic Assessment
• Wye, Powys Habitat Improvement Scheme (WyePHISH).

Related External links

Acid Waters Monitoring Network

This network monitors the chemical and ecological impact of acid deposition in areas of the UK believed to be sensitive to acidification.

Visit: Acid Waters Monitoring Network (external link)

Air Quality in Wales

This is the website of the Welsh Air Quality Forum.  It provides comprehensive monitoring data from local authorities.

Visit: Air Quality in Wales (external link)

Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme

This programme co-ordinates the investigation of all whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans), marine turtles and basking sharks that strand around the UK coastline.

Visit: Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (external link)

Environmental Change Network

This network provide data, monitoring and research to detect and interpret environmental change.

Visit: Environmental Change Network (external link)

Green House Gas Inventory

This site provides an independent estimate of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Visit: Green House Gas Inventory (external link)

Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership

This partnership develops and co-ordinates an evidence base about marine climate change impacts.

Visit: Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (external link)

Wales Environment Research Hub

The hub is a collaborative venture to provide focus for co-ordinating strategic environmental research needs in Wales.

Visit: Wales Environment Research Hub (external link)