Spatial analysis for Area Statements

Descriptions

Natural Resources Wales are undertaking an assessment of the sustainable management of natural resources (SMNR) under the Environment Bill Wales. We require specialist spatial analysis of our natural resources and ecosystems, in terms of both ecological resilience and the ecosystem services we receive from natural resources.We would like to commission Ecosystem Service Stock/ Natural Resource Asset maps, to detail what is present, together with opportunity maps to inform decision making.Building on the Natural Capital Committee’s analysis of the costs and benefits of enhancing the condition or extent of natural resources, we would like to generate opportunity maps showing the most practical current options. The Scottish Borders Regional Land Use Pilot undertook similar mapping and we see this as a very good model to adapt to the Welsh policy context.We see value in building on the JNCC spatial framework for ecosystem services mapping:http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-6241The framework’s ability to consider opportunities for multiple benefits and places requiring consideration of trade-offs, would be useful in the Welsh policy context where we need to consider practical management option and choices which best contribute to our national wellbeing goals (see Wellbeing of Future Generations Act).The main themes for mapping will follow the opportunities identified in the State of Natural Resources Report, chapter 8, available on the NRW website from 26th September. Examples will be include urban green infrastructure issues, catchment scale natural flood management and other issues where spatial data is readily available and will enable an integration of data to highlight issues and potential solutions suitable to inform the regional Area Statements under the Environment Act (Wales) 2016. The maps will be required to examine issues at a regional level, eg north west or north east Wales etc, and to build up to cover the whole of Wales, including the Wales marine area. Given this level of detail and the time needed to fully explore the issues to map, possible via workshops, we envisage the work under this contract taking approximately 180 days of total consultancy staff time.