Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Gwent Green Grid Partnership (GGGP) and local partners, has successfully completed the first series of workshops to help shape Resilient Ecological Networks (RENs) across Gwent.
Building on successful REN mapping for the Gwent Levels, the programme is now expanding to the Wye Valley, Wentwood, Newport, the Eastern Valleys, Central Monmouthshire, and Bannau Brycheiniog. This phase is supported by Nature Networks Fund Round 4, delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government. A development grant has been awarded to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to support REN mapping and stakeholder engagement across the region.
Resilient Ecological Networks (RENs) link protected sites and high-quality habitats across the landscape, managed for biodiversity and delivering benefits for nature and people. This project is following the national RENs guidance Terrestrial and freshwater Resilient Ecological Networks: a guide for practitioners in Wales, developing a framework that embeds collaborative nature recovery action at the landscape to regional scale.
Workshop One key outcomes
- Introduced the RENs approach, policy links and mapping methodology.
- Reviewed and refined Core Zones (high-biodiversity value areas, including designated sites) using local knowledge and technical expertise.
- Shared and considered DPSIR (Drivers–Pressures–State–Impact–Response) to inform REN design.
- Co-designed initial draft Nature Recovery Zones to strengthen connectivity and ecological resilience.
- Collaboratively discussed and incorporated the DECCA (Diversity, Extent, Condition, Connectivity, Adaptability) framework.
What’s next
Two further workshops are planned for 2026, focusing on ecosystem services assessment, shared visioning, nature recovery action planning, and delivery planning with key partners. More details will be shared in the spring.
What are RENs?
Resilient Ecological Networks are connected networks of habitats that support healthy, adaptable ecosystems. RENs mapping typically identifies two zones:
- Core Zones — high-quality habitat areas, including designated sites.
- Nature Recovery Zones — surrounding areas that help connect and support core zones through restoration and improved ecological resilience.
This work is guided by the national RENs Guidance Terrestrial and freshwater Resilient Ecological Networks: a guide for practitioners in Wales, DECCA framework and informed by national and local evidence collaboratively developed with partners. Outputs will inform future planning, land management and nature recovery actions across Gwent.
Funding
This phase is supported by the Nature Networks Fund Round 4, delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government. A development grant has been awarded to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to support REN mapping and stakeholder engagement across Gwent.