© Zoe Richards - Ramblers Cymru
Protect Nature Now
Stop the Spread of Invasive Non-Native Species
What is the Protect Nature Now Charter?
The Wales Resilient Ecological Network (WaREN) project, hosted by the North Wales Wildlife Trust, are committed to tackling invasive species in Wales. We have drawn up the Protect Nature Now Charter to allow an individual, organisation, group, or business, to also broadcast their commitment to this important cause.
©WaREN
Why Protect Nature Now?
In the face of the global nature and climate crises, it is crucial we protect nature in Wales. Invasive species are one of the top five drivers of native crisis.
Invasive species are non-native species that have been intentionally or unintentionally introduced beyond their native range by humans. They impact the environment, economy, our health and the way we live.
Invasive non-native species (INNS) are also referred to as Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Here we refer to them as invasive species.
For more information and examples of invasive species and how they affect our environment click here.
Aims of the Charter
The aims of the Charter is:
- Unite stakeholders and partners with a common understanding to support the sustainable management of invasive species
- Allows individuals, organizations, businesses and/or groups to show their commitment to tackling invasive species in Wales.
Themes of the Charter
The Protect Nature Now charter sets out the aims above, these are set out via themes. Themes can be achieved through a flexible variety of steps.
These steps are changeable to suit an individual, organization, business or group within reason.
To make this charter successful, WaREN feels that each organization, business or group should complete one step from two themes.
Theme 1 - Learn about biosecurity
WaREN will set out six principle training sessions online –
1. General invasive species ID and recording (INNS Mapper)
1b. Invasive freshwater plants
1c. Invasive freshwater invertebrates
1d. Recording module for INNS mapper* - Coming soon
2. General biosecurity training
2a. Terrestrial biosecurity training –Coming soon
2b. Aquatic (freshwater) biosecurity training – Coming soon
Theme 2 - Look and Lead by keeping biosecurity standards high and improving the uptake as an individual or across your organization, business, or group.
Theme 2 is an achievable theme through many flexible steps. These steps are not fixed but can be changed to help someone implement improved biosecurity for their organization, business, group, or as an individuals.
To improve the alignment with the Wales Biosecurity Strategy we have looked at organising the action into individuals or stakeholders.
The steps below are not an exhaustive list. You can suggest your idea to achieve Theme 2 by dropping us an email: Gareth.Holland-Jones@NorthWalesWildlifeTrust.org.uk
Steps for achieving Theme 2 for Individuals:
- Be Plant Wise in your garden and Check Clean Dry whilst you are out and about,
- Explore the WaREN Invasive Species Toolkit,
- Attend events to support biosecurity initiatives and tackle invasive species across Wales e.g. Invasive Species Week.
Steps for achieving Theme 2 for WaREN stakeholders, businesses or organisations:
- Having biosecurity kits in all vehicles which go to field site visits.
- Educate field staff on how to report sightings of invasive species and make sure that all field staff phones have the INNS mapper app.
- Have ‘Be Plant Wise’, ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ and ‘Keep it Clean’ campaign material on display within your organization, business, or group.
The Welsh Biosecurity Strategy
The charter will be launched alongside the Welsh Biosecurity Strategy; the aim of the strategy is to:
1. Improve the understanding of biosecurity and how it helps to reduce the risk of introducing or spreading invasive species across Wales; and
2. Improve the uptake of biosecurity actions (or measures) across Wales.
Link to the Welsh Biosecurity Strategy will be added soon.
Tackling invasive species which are found (or could arrive) in Wales is undoubtedly a challenge. We need your help to accomplish it!
We can only achieve this through collaboration. No help is too small, and the below set of steps should be used as a guide for you or your organisation to make as big of an impact as possible. This is why we have made the Protect Nature Now charter.
More information
For more information or to suggest some action of your own, please contact:
Gareth Holland-Jones, Wales Resilient Ecological Network (WaREN) Project Officer North Wales at: