Meetings

NDM5554 Alun Ffred Jones (Arfon)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Environment and Sustainability Committee on its inquiry into Sustainable Land Management, which was laid in the Table Office on 19 May 2014.

Note: The Welsh Government's response to the report was laid in the Table Office on 2 July 2014.

Supporting Documents

Environment and Sustainability Committee’s Report

Welsh Government’s Response

The item started at 16.27

NDM5554 Alun Ffred Jones (Arfon)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Environment and Sustainability Committee on its inquiry into Sustainable Land Management, which was laid in the Table Office on 19 May 2014.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

E&S(4)-13-14 paper 1

4.2 The Committee noted the letter.

7.1 The Committee considered the draft report and agreed to consider any changes by email.

5.1 The Committee discussed the evidence.

          Alun Davies AM, Minister for Natural Resources and Food

Kevin Austin, Head of Sustainable Land Management

Nicola Thomas, Head of Implementation, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management

2.1The Minister responded to questions from members of the Committee.

2.2 The Minister agreed to write to the Committee with further information on the data and monitoring project launched by Cardiff University.

7.1 The Committee agreed the key issues for the report of its inquiry into sustainable land management as set out in the paper it considered.

1.1 The Committee considered the key issues arising from the inquiry into Sustainable Land Management .

E&S(4)-08-14 paper 2

8.1 The Committee noted the paper.

E&S(4)-06-14 paper 4

Professor Janet Dwyer, Director

Chris Short, Senior Research Fellow

5.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

5.2 Professor Dwyer agreed to provide information on the role of the Welsh Government in relation to data collection.

E&S(4)-06-14 Paper 3

          Dr Shaun Russell, Director

4.1 Dr Russell responded to questions from members of the Committee.

4.2 Dr Russell agreed to provide details of overseas development schemes.

E&S(4)-06-14 paper 1

Professor Jamie Newbold, IBERS Director of Research and Enterprise

Professor Iain Donnison, IBERS Director of External Relations

2.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

E&S(4)-06-14 Paper 2

Gary Douch, Head of Farming Connect

Eirwen Williams, Director, Menter a Busnes and Head of Rural Programmes

3.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

E&S(4)-03-14 paper 1

Joanne Sherwood, Head of Natural Resources Planning

Brian Pawson, Senior Agricultural Adviser

2.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

2.2 The witnesses agreed to provide further information in writing explaining how the condition and connectivity  of SSIs can effect the resilience of the wider environment and advice on how agriculture and commercial forestry could be better intergrated in the RDP.

          Chris Blake, Director, The Green Valleys (Wales)

          Richard Tomlinson, Managing Director, Fre-energy

4.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

E&S(4)-03-14 paper 2 : CLA

E&S(4)-03-14 paper 3 : Hybu Cig Cymru

          Ben Underwood, Director Wales, CLA

Gary Davies, Regional Strategy Director, South West Wales Regional Partnership

          Dai Davies, Chair, Hybu Cig Cymru

Siôn Aron Jones, Industry Development Manager, Hybu Cig Cymru

3.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

E&S(4)-02-14 paper 2 :  Coed Cadw Woodland Trust

E&S(4)-02-14 paper 3 :  Confor

E&S(4)-02-14 paper 4 :  Maelor Forest Nurseries Ltd

Jerry Langford, Director Wales, Coed Cadw Woodland Trust

Kath McNulty, National Manager for Wales, Confor

Mike Harvey, Director, Maelor Forest Nurseries Ltd

George McRobbie, Managing Director, UPM Tillhill

4.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

E&S(4)-01-14 paper 1 : RSPB Cymru

E&S(4)-01-14 paper 2 : Wildlife Trusts Wales

          Arfon Williams, Countryside Manager, RSPB Cymru

Annie Smith, Sustainable Development Manager, RSPB Cymru

          Rachel Sharp, Chief Executive, Wildlife Trusts Wales

James Byrne, Living Landscapes Advocacy Manager, Wildlife Trusts Wales

2.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

2.2 Annie Smith agreed to provide a note with further details on her comments on the definitions contained in the Environment Bill White Paper.

E&S(4)-01-14 paper 3 : National Parks Wales

E&S(4)-01-14 paper 4 : Brecon Beacons National Park

E&S(4)-01-14 paper 5 : National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Julian Atkins, Director of Countryside and Land Management, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

Geraint Jones, Farm Conservation Officer, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority

Chris Lindley, Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Officer

3.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

E&S(4)-25-13 paper 1 : NFU Cymru

E&S(4)-25-13 paper 2 : Farmers Union of Wales

Ed Bailey, President, NFU Cymru

Dylan Morgan, Head of Policy/Deputy Director, NFU Cymru

Gavin Williams, Chair, Land Use and Parliamentary Committee, Farmers Union of Wales

Rhian Nowell-Phillips, Deputy Director Agricultural Policy, Farmers Union of Wales

2.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

E&S(4)-25-13 paper 3 : Wales Young Farmers Clubs

E&S(4)-25-13 paper 4 : Country Land and Business Association

Ceri Davies, Vice Chair, Rural Affairs, Wales Young Farmers Clubs

Sarah Price, Rural Development Officer, Wales Young Farmers Clubs

Ben Underwood, Director Wales, CLA

          Keri Davies, Organic Group of Wales

3.1 The witnesses responded to questions from members of the Committee.

4.1 The Committee considered the consultation responses and how to proceed with the inquiry.