Project Implementation in Wales

Here we describe the actions that we will take in West Wales to meet each of the six Joint Project objectives 

1. Develop Community Capacity via the Rivers Trust Network, by:

a) Developing Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust as a sustainable charity funded by an overlapping sequence of projects.

b) Customising training and educational material from partners in the UK and Ireland, and making it available to community groups, schools and colleges by December 2005

c) Hosting a Rivers Trusts development workshop in West Wales by 31 December 2005

2. Broadening Community Commitment and Access to the River Environment by:

d) Designing and producing funding and implementation plans for a 'Cleddau Trail' to improve local community and visitor understanding of the Cleddau from source to sea. Trail infrastructure design, and implementation and funding plans will be completed by 31 July 2005

e) Fostering links with community groups, schools and colleges; providing environmental learning materials; and publicising opportunities for field visits that promote understanding and enjoyment through positive, practical experience designed to bring subjects to life. Learning resources will be distributed electronically (CD-ROM/website) to the first five beneficiary groups by 31 March 2006 and will be in use by at least 20 beneficiary groups by March 2007.

f) Training individuals and groups in river and habitat improvement. The first training course will be completed in Wales by 31 December and a further three  training courses completed by 31 March 2007. Nine sites of restored river habitats in West Wales will be adopted by community groups by 31 March 2007.

3. Environmental Improvements via Agricultural Best Practice by:
G) Using best-practice training and guidance, and working with farmers and other landowners to create demonstration 'best-practice sites'. Six demonstration sites will be agreed with landowners, and best practice methods introduced by 31 March 2007. 

h) An agri-environment specialist visiting farms to promote best practice protection of riparian land and promoting CCW's Living Rivers initiative. Sixty farm visits will be completed and written recommendations provided to the landowners by 31 March 2007; and 15 landowners will be implementing best-practice recommendations for protecting riparian land by 31 March 2007.

4. Conservation and Enhancement of Fish Stocks by:
i) Promoting catch-and-release of salmon, trout and sea trout. Promotional material will be available on website and existing brochures distributed to 90 per cent of Cleddau and Teifi Valley fisheries by 31 March 2005, to secure at least a 10 per cent increase in catch-and-release of salmon on the Cleddau and Teifi by 31 December 2007.

5. Developing and Marketing of Angling Tourism Opportunities by:
j) Developing a Web-based holiday marketing system with fishing on the Teifi and Pembrokeshire rivers in Wales. The site will extend and complement other websites that support green tourism such as Wales Tourist Board's angling promotion site www.fishing.visitwales.com and www.fishing-in-wales.com . Autoresponders and update tools will be operational by 31 March 2005  with static Web-based information resource, including maps, safety, access and fishing pictures and guidance, complete and verified by 31 March 2005. Online guidance/training will be provided to at least 30 fishing and other holiday package providers in West Wales 

k) Publishing a 16-page colour illustrated e-brochure and printed guide to fishing and other outdoor-based holidays in Pembrokeshire by 30 June 2006 

l) Providing training courses for fishery owners/clubs and individuals based upon the Irish experience in running gillie/boatman courses aimed at enhancing the experience of visiting anglers and so securing an increased return visit rate. The first training course will be completed in West Wales by 31 June 2005 and a further two training courses cby 31 March 2007. Four Welcome Day events for local and tourist anglers and their families will be held in the Teifi Valley and the Cleddau Valley by 31 March 2007 

m) Arranging 'Conservation and Learn-to-Fish Days' in the Teifi Valley and in Pembrokeshire for local people and tourists. Six Conservation and Learn-to-Fish Days will be held in West Wales by 31 March 2007

6. Building Capacity and Commitment of Communities to Protecting their Rivers by:
n) With help from CHERE, supported by Environment Agency Wales and CCW, the Project Officer and ten community volunteers will receive training in environmental monitoring so that by 31 December 2006 they are capable of carrying out essential monitoring and taking emergency appropriate action if necessary.

Managing the project by:
o) A part-time Project Coordinator from UWA, assisted by a small Project Management Board (see q below), leading the project and provide strategic direction.

p) A full-time Project Officer spending two days per month on project administration; the rest the Project Officer's time being dedicated to achieving milestone targets.

q) A Project Management Board, comprising the Project Coordinator, principal Wales partners and the Project Officer in Wales, meeting bi-monthly to set priorities, allocate resources, and control and monitor the work.

r) An Advisory Group involving the project partners in West Wales meeting twice per year to receive updates on progress, help plan and implement educational events, and feed in ideas for securing increased community involvement.