IGIBS Kick Off Meeting 11 th April 2011 Colin Chapman

Overview Who are SEED Some History Wales’ Natural Environment Framework – Concept & Scope Research and Evidence Agenda Benefits WAG Involvement in IGIBS

Who are SEED? Sustainable Futures Directorate Heritage Group Regeneration Rural Affairs Tourism & Marketing Dept Environment & Sustainability Sustainability & Environmental Evidence Division (SEED) Scientific Evidence & Assessment Branch (SEAB) GI Policy Unit WAG Involvement in IGIBS

WAG Corporate GIS Programme External Business Improvement Prototypes SEED Provide Strategic Steer For Environment Prototypes Natural Environmental Framework A Partnership between SEED & G&T Delivering business improvements through GIS for NEF/SF Some History WAG Involvement in IGIBS

‘A Living Wales’ Consultation “Demands on the environment are increasing because of climate change, human activity and other factors. Until now we have usually looked at parts of the environment separately. This means we have underestimated the importance of the environment in our lives. Our new Natural Environment Framework (NEF) focuses on managing our environment as a whole rather than focusing on separate parts.” Ecosystems Approach Focus on Ecosystem Services Natural Environment Framework - Concept WAG Involvement in IGIBS

NEF as an umbrella initiative – “From Land To Sea” Ambitious Links & dependencies on other policies, programmes & initiatives Importance of spatial intelligence Collaborative initiative – data sharing access to data and tools Natural Environment Framework - Scope WAG Involvement in IGIBS

Maintaining and creating links to Universities in Wales Horizon scanning Emerging technologies and science to answer policy questions Supporting/sponsoring new relevant research Access to data Evidence Base (SEED as evidence leads) R&D and Evidence Agenda WAG Involvement in IGIBS

Benefits for Sustainable Futures WAG Involvement in IGIBS Building on existing relationship with Aberystwyth University Linking into emerging technologies and techniques - Earth Observation Stimulate two way exchange of information – research and policy drivers Exploring ways of improving access to data in Environment/Rural Sectors Web based technologies to facilitate better access to relevant data Exploring access control – communicating data at an appropriate level Findings to inform development of specific solutions to support NEF Exploring emerging technologies and science to answer policy questions Innovative solutions to old problems – monitoring, targeting policies and activities Big questions: climate change, ecosystem health; Need for a robust evidence base Communication with stakeholders across Environment/Rural Sectors Engaging at the right level with stakeholders Application of technology to inform development what is possible / necessary