HOW THE ENVIRONMENT BOOSTS THE ECONOMY

Countryside Council for Wales

A major study, commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales, reveals how important the environment is to the economy – in every area of Wales.

Dr Simon Bilsborough, CCW’s Chief Economist said: “One in six jobs are directly dependent on the environment. Now, these findings let us measure the economic impact of the environment in each of the four economic regions of Wales. The management and use of the environment underpins the whole of the Welsh economy – not just the obvious areas such as tourism and agriculture.”

Many companies say that the natural environment is a key factor in their decision to locate new businesses in Wales - our countryside provides superb locations in which to live and work. This underlines the view of tourists, with 40% of all visitors saying that the environment was the main motive for their trip.

“As CCW’s Green Economy campaign has proven, investing in environmental management is an extremely effective way of sustaining and regenerating communities. The economic effects of the Countryside Council for Wales’ own work may provide some reasons why,” concluded Roger Thomas, CCW’s Chief Executive.

“We can all help,” adds Roger Thomas. “We can make our money worker harder in the local economy – by using local businesses and demanding high environmental standards.”

CCW Facts and Figures relevant to all Wales

Since Tir Gofal started in February 2000, payments of £24.35m have been made to 1,450 farmers. Another £2m is invested every year in more than 600 agreements to sympathetically manage sites of special scientific interest. All these payments help to sustain the viability of these farms, as well as their local communities.

The Welsh countryside, maintained by this work, as well as the opportunities for public access, is a magnet for visitors. Around £5million of money spent by visitors to just 3 of Wales’ 66

National Nature Reserves. The 1 million visitors to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, one of our 3 National Trails, spend over £14m locally.

CCW provides more than £3.7million as grants to voluntary, public and private sector organisations in Wales. These in turn directly and indirectly support over 500 jobs.

CCW has a purchasing budget of around £7.5m. Our ‘green’ procurement policy strengthens the links between supply and demand for environmental goods and services.

Facts and Figures for North Wales
Research findings for Ynys Môn, Denbighshire, Conwy, Wrexham, Flintshire, Gwynedd (excluding Meirionnydd)
Number of direct environmentally related jobs31,353
Number of indirect environmentally related jobs 11,555
Total environmentally related GDP £595,200,000

Economic benefits of CCW work in this area

Tir Gofal Agreements are worth on average at £10,000 per year per farm. In the first three years, 293 farms were signed up to the Tir Gofal Scheme in this area.

There are 16 National Nature Reserves in this area. In 2002/03, CCW spent £310,791 on these Reserves – ensuring that the wildlife, access and interpretation facilities (where appropriate) are up to standard.

Coedydd Aber NNR attracts 20,000 visitors per year, spending around £350 000, supporting an estimated 5 local jobs.

The total impact of CCW’s grants programme in 2001/2 (including the impact of the larger projects that the grants buy into) was to generate output worth £5.4m, which supported 180 jobs across north Wales.

300 SSSI management agreements were worth £1.07m to farmers in north Wales.

Facts and Figures for Mid Wales

Research findings for Ceredigion, Powys and Meirionnydd
Number of direct environmentally related jobs 17,990
Number of indirect environmentally related jobs 4,556
Total environmentally related GDP £285,800,000

Economic benefits of CCW work in this area

Tir Gofal Agreements are worth on average at £10,000 per year per farm. In the first three years, 586 farms were signed up to the Tir Gofal Scheme in this area.
There are 28 National Nature Reserves in this area. CCW spends £540,411on these Reserves – ensuring that the wildlife, access and interpretation facilities (where appropriate) are up to standard.

Ynys Las attracts 200,000 visitors per year, spending c. £6.95m, supporting an estimated 390 local jobs.

The total impact of CCW’s grants programme in 2001/2 (including the impact of the larger projects that the grants buy into) was to generate output worth £3.6m, which supported 120 jobs across mid Wales.

274 SSSI management agreements across mid Wales as a whole were worth £400,000 to farmers in mid Wales.

Facts and Figures for South West Wales
Research findings for Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea
Number of direct environmentally related jobs 28,341
Number of indirect environmentally related jobs 10,895
Total environmentally related GDP £544,900,000
Economic benefits of CCW work in this area

Tir Gofal Agreements are worth on average at £10,000 per year per farm. In the first three years, 456 farms were signed up to the Tir Gofal Scheme in this area
There are 13 National Nature Reserves in this area. CCW spends £176,312 on these Reserves – ensuring that the wildlife, access and interpretation facilities (where appropriate) are up to standard.

In south Wales as a whole, the total impact of CCW’s grants programme in 2001/2 (including the impact of the larger projects that the grants buy into) was to generate output worth £5.97m, which supported 200 jobs across south Wales.
71 SSSI management agreements across south Wales as a whole were worth £286,000 to farmers in south Wales.

Facts and figures for South East Wales
Research findings for Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan
Number of direct environmentally related jobs 39,973
Number of indirect environmentally related jobs 24,672
Total environmentally related GDP £941,900,000
Economic benefits of CCW work in this area

Tir Gofal Agreements are worth on average at £10,000 per year per farm. In the first three years, 132 farms were signed up to the Tir Gofal Scheme in this area
There are 8 National Nature Reserves in this area. CCW spends £83,830 on these Reserves – ensuring that the wildlife, access facilities (where appropriate) are up to standard.

CCW contributed around £200,000 towards the Gwent Levels Wetlands Reserve.
71 SSSI management agreements across south Wales as a whole were worth £286,000 to farmers in south Wales

In south Wales as a whole, the total impact of CCW’s grants programme in 2001/2 (including the impact of the larger projects that the grants buy into) was to generate output worth £5.97m, which supported 200 jobs across south Wales.
The largest proportion of grant payments are made to organisations in south Wales and support a variety of schemes – from helping local authorities manage Local Nature Reserves to a community furniture project; and from supporting educational initiatives to developing a number of health related walking projects.

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