Summary
There are currently 23 indicators being used to monitor progress towards the aims of the Woodlands for Wales (WfW) strategy, the third revision of which was published by Welsh Government in 2018. This project will develop and update the existing Woodlands for Wales indicators to ensure they are relevant and fit-for-purpose. The revised indicators will be used to objectively inform other areas of land-use policy in Wales, such as the development of the National Forest for Wales, to ensure that these meet the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.
Research Objectives
This work is reviewing how well the current indicators have performed since 2001, when the first Woodlands for Wales strategy was published. We are exploring the potential to use advances in data gathering technologies to fill existing evidence gaps, and to increase the objectivity, effectiveness, and frequency of reporting. Our work will help to provide objective evidence to underpin policies designed to ensure that Wales’s woodlands can be resiliently managed to deliver the desired outputs and services for the people of Wales.
Latest Update
Meetings with various external and internal stakeholders are taking place to determine the status of research being undertaken, alongside advances in technology and data collection methodology. This initial work is crucial in identifying existing and potential sources of relevant data to objectively underpin the revised suite of indicators.
A progress report is being written to help determine the origin of the current outcomes, identify the evidence gaps, and see where more contemporary research is required. When complete, a link to the initial findings will be published on this page.
Funding & Partners
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Welsh Government