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How will climate change affect the ecosystem service delivery of grassland, such as levels of carbon storage and sequestration in a warming climate?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
More research is needed on the effects of, for example, higher temperatures and rainfall, on soil carbon levels and other ecosystem services, including water regulation.
Keywords (discipline, other): Semi-natural grassland
Land use and soil
Climate change
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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How will tidal lagoons impact water quality?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Identify the approach and techniques that may be used to quantify the impacts of tidal lagoons on water quality receptors. Some questions to consider include:
How will lagoons impact turbidity, salinity, temperature, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, bacterial concentrations and phytoplankton communities both inside and outside the lagoon?
How will lagoons impact the dispersion of discharges from 3rd party assets such as trade effluents and sewage discharges
Next steps and progress: Contract and/or research
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine science, tidal lagoons, water quality, techniques, turbidity, salinity, temperature, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, bacterial concentrations, phytoplankton communities, discharges, trade effluents, sewage discharges
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Kirsten Ramsay Email Address: kirsten.ramsay@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk Phone: NA
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In Wales, how has land-use classification changed since 2010 and what is the extent and spatial-arrangement of modified habitats?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Ecosystem resilience evidence needs encompass several needs from the other ecosystem and theme chapters.
Keywords (discipline, other): Ecosystem Resilience
Woodland
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Is habitat ‘rollback’ actually occurring as a response to sea level rise and erosion and if it is, where is it occurring and to what extent?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evaluate extent of pressure and identify areas for intervention. Inform resilience.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Freshwater
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Ecosystem resilience
Climate change
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Is saltmarsh developing further up estuaries than previous distribution and moving inland where unconstrained?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evaluate extent of pressure and identify areas for intervention. Inform resilience.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Freshwater
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Ecosystem resilience
Climate change
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Is the building industry becoming more or less sustainable in its consumption of energy and generation of greenhouse gasses?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The building industry is a major consumer of energy, and generates significant amounts of greenhouse gas from its supply chain including the production of cement and steel . Most of their activity relates to urban areas. Data on this is available at a UK level, but it is harder to obtain for Wales.
Keywords (discipline, other): Urban
Land use and soil
Waste
Water efficiency
Energy
Climate change
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Is the building industry becoming more or less sustainable in its use of materials, and its production of waste?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The building industry is a major consumer of materials and energy, and produces significant amounts of waste. Most of their activity relates to urban areas. Data on this is available at a UK level, but it is harder to obtain for Wales.
Keywords (discipline, other): Urban
Land use and soil
Waste
Water efficiency
Energy
Climate change
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Mapping exercise looking at (1) area in Wales that are deprived in nature (2) areas in Wales that are dependant on an industry / employer (3) where that industry / employer will be phased out as part of a just transition with (4) optional research into areas in Wales with an education deficit. After mapping the above, to overlay the individual maps and create a ‘heat map’ of areas in Wales where an investment in nature-based green jobs would have the maximum impact on nature, communities, and people as part of a just transition.
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Previous research has found that the right investment in nature restoration could deliver up to 7,000 nature-based green jobs in Wales over the next decade. However, there is a real need to understand what jobs and skills need to be created where, in order to truly deliver for nature and for communities. A ‘heat map’ could help develop a spatial approach to delivering the right job in the right place. In order to ensure its relevance, the research could:
1. Link into the ongoing work of the Nature Service Wales Partnership to help shape future policy
2. Help shape the delivery of pilot projects that provide nature based green skills and jobs across Wales
3. Provide a comms piece for all work on green jobs and a just transition in the lead up to the next Senedd elections
Keywords (discipline, other): Geography, nature, industry, education, impact, GIS, Just Transition, communications, politics, policy
Website/URL links:
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: RSPB
Contact Details
Name: Tabea.wilkes@rspb.org.uk Wilkes Email Address: tabea.wilkes@rspb.org.uk Phone: NA
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Nature connection through tourism and the question of the ‘ideal’ tourist.
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Access to nature and nature connection more generally is a key matter when it comes to moving the needle. In my work with national parks there is a distinction between the ‘right’ type of visitor – monied, educated, well-equipped, and invariably middle class, and the wrong kind – the bucket and spade brigade, generally working class, new to experiencing the outdoors, sorely lacking in nature connection as they are typically from urban areas. The latter deliver income to local communities, cause less trouble. The latter cause fires, leave rubbish, bring their sandwiches with them etc. etc. etc. All of our communities in the UK have been shown to be far removed from nature – we are among the least nature connected nations on the planet. The national parks strategize openly for capturing the ‘good’ kind of tourist but I feel that there are clear questions here that good research could be called to answer. There is a point at which the ‘bad’ becomes the good, through education, through exposure, through experience. All these people are setting out to meet the same need for wide open spaces, green and a sense of belonging in our natural landscapes. My question would be how can we as land managers, legislators, tourism operators and administrators meet these needs better and what levers do we have towards pushing visitors towards genuine connection? Is promoting nature based tourism one way? Outdoor recreation is another? A right to roam allowing a less prescriptive experience off the beaten path? The research is clear that nature connection aside from all other benefits moves people towards taking action on climate change. So this seems a key challenge – how do we better utilise the millions who flow into the countryside every year and move their experience away from nature being a backdrop to their pictures, to a genuine part of their lives. Should we see people as ‘the wrong kind of tourist’, or are we merely offering the wrong kinds of experiences?
Keywords (discipline, other): Politics, economic, psychology, nature connection, access
Website/URL links:
Looking for collaborators: No External Partner: No Organisation: British Mountaineering Council
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
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Nature Connection would give all children and young people agency to manage their own mental wellbeing so that limited medical support could focus on those who require specialist help.
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
English Government research shows 87% of children have stated that being in nature makes them ‘very happy’. Connecting with nature improves mental and physical health and educational, emotional and personal development. In a recent Natural England report, the forecast Social Return on Investment (SROI) for schools that have embedded learning outside the classroom in natural environments as a whole school approach is £4.32 for every £1 invested. In addition, research shows that a close relationship with nature is four times more important than your purchasing power for generating feelings that your life is worthwhile.
This is important because children’s access to nature is inconsistent. We know that Wales is further along than England but there is still a need for ALL children to benefit.
Keywords (discipline, other): Education, mental health, youth work, PGCE, nature connection
Website/URL links:
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Nature Premium
Contact Details
Name: Sara Collins Email Address: saracollins@naturepremium.org Phone: NA
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