Today, Monday 25 November, the Welsh Government announces a revised version of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), following months of negotiations. This has successfully brought together a wide spectrum of organisations to listen to farmers' concerns. Although we do recognise the continued commitment of farmers in the scheme to manage existing woodland and habitat, along with retaining the 10% habitat scheme requirement. However, going forward it will be critical to support the many farmers who want to go beyond this if we are to see nature restored in Wales. Presently the proposed changes water down ambitions to enable nature-friendly farming, which is damaging for the long-term sustainability of farm businesses in Wales. This is a lost opportunity for Wales to contribute to tackling the nature and climate crisis. 

Wales is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and 1 in 6 species are at risk of extinction – this is why it's so important to get land management right. Food systems and policy prop up an agricultural industry that has not historically delivered for nature, and change is needed.  

Unfortunately, proposals to ensure that the SFS contributes to nature recovery have been significantly reduced. Instead of aiming to restore nature by creating and extending habitat on farmland, ambition has narrowed to focus on maintaining existing pockets of nature.  This approach will not help to increase resilience to climate change or help to protect 30% of land in Wales for nature by 2030. 

We are particularly concerned that plans have been scrapped for all farms joining the scheme to have at least two ponds. Additionally, the 10% tree cover target for all farms has been shelved. This follows misinformation that farms would be required to plant an additional 10% of woodland, rather than including existing tree cover (farms in Wales have an average of 6% tree cover). The rollback will also hamper commitments by the Welsh Government to plant 86 million trees by 2030 and 180,000 hectares by 2050. Now, farmers are being asked to make plans for tree planting with no requirement to indicate when trees will be planted. This means the benefits of increasing cover of native, broadleaved woodlands – boosting soil health, drawing down carbon, reducing flooding and providing vital habitat for wildlife – will not be realised. 

The impacts of climate change are being felt, and it is imperative that farmers are supported to implement measures to adapt, such as creating ponds and wetlands. The 2021 UK Food Security report shows that climate change and biodiversity loss are the biggest medium to long term risks to the UK's domestic food production. Wildlife Trusts Wales wants to see far more ambition in the SFS and a significantly increased budget, particularly for the ‘optional’ tier which now needs to contain nature-positive actions.  

Some farms in Wales are struggling and thousands of jobs have been lost over the past decade. Poor returns from the market, competition with imports, and climate change are affecting the viability of many farm businesses. Demand for cheaper food has also contributed to more intensive farming in some areas, worsening river pollution in Welsh rivers. 

Farmers are integral to nature recovery in Wales. They must be supported to plant more trees, hedgerows and field margins of wildflowers. More funding must be made available to support farmers to collaborate at a catchment or landscape scale. The Welsh Government needs to ensure the optional and collaborative tiers of the SFS are taken up by farms across Wales – and provide the right budget to achieve this if Wales is to respond to the climate and nature crisis.