Most parts of the Public Map Platform require JavaScript to work properly. To get the most out of the Public Map Platform, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings and reload the page.
Priority Ecological Network in the Terrestrial Environment Priority Ecological Networks (PENs) in the terrestrial environment are versions of the all-Wales habitat networks that show areas of connectivity between Protected Sites, and as such provide a framework to inform the location of action to build functional resilient ecological networks based on our most important places for biodiversity. Typical actions would be habitat improvement, restoration, or creation, located within the boundaries of a PEN, or situated at its margins to consolidate, extend, or link different PENs. These PENs supersede the GIS layers that were previously known as ‘Level 2 networks’, and are available for: Native woodland; Semi-natural grassland; Heathland; Bog; Fen and Sand Dune All these priority networks are also represented as a ‘PEN Hotspot’ map, which is a simple count of all available networks within a given 1km square for an ‘at a glance’ view across Wales. In addition, the ‘native woodland’ and ‘semi-natural grassland’ PENs have both received updates in the form of additional networks to accommodate our latest protected sites series and survey information and expand beyond what was originally available. Heathland, Bog and Fen have been merged from their originally separate upland and lowland versions into singular datasets and a previously unreleased ‘sand dune’ network is also now included. A Freshwater PEN is planned. Please note: These individual map layers are a modelled description of current connectivity between habitats and as such should be considered as descriptive, rather than prescriptive! As well as this set of priority networks, it is useful to also be able to view these layers alongside other open datasets available for download from DataMap Wales using the links below: SSSI boundaries: Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) | DataMapWales (gov.wales) SSSI boundaries buffered to 300m WOM21 Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) / Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 100/300m Buffer | DataMapWales (gov.wales) Priority Ecological Network in the marine environment At sea, an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas (MPAs) has been established which, when measures are in place to bring about good condition, will form the marine Resilient Ecological Network. Connectivity within the MPA Network is inherently good, however some of the features (species and habitats for which the sites are designated) are known to be in unfavourable condition (Natural Resources Wales / Indicative feature condition assessments for European Marine Sites). The marine Priority Ecological Network (MPEN) map shows the full extent of the MPA network (light blue), highlighting the sites where one or more features are known to be in unfavourable condition (hatched area). In these hatched areas, action is needed to deliver measures that restore features, reduce pressures to enable their recovery, or gather evidence needed to support effective management. NRW continues to gather and assess information about the condition of habitats and species across the MPA network. Future iterations of the MPEN will incorporate new evidence and understanding as it becomes available. Alongside the MPEN it may be useful to view: Natural Resources Wales / Indicative feature condition assessments for European Marine Sites: reports of indicative features condition assessments, undertaken in 2018. Natural Resources Wales / LIFE N2K Thematic Action Plans: which contain information on key pressures and threats that affect sites and features within the MPEN. Other useful open datasets available for download from DataMapWales include: Marine Protected Areas in Welsh Waters | DataMapWales (gov.wales): the MPA network includes: Special Areas of Conservation; Special Protection Areas; Ramsar sites; Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a Marine Conservation Zone. Marine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Features | DataMapWales (gov.wales): indicative baseline extent and status of Special Areas of Conservation habitat features at the time of site designation. Attribution statement: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.
DataMapWales
Drainage districts are typically found in low-Iying land where boundaries are determined by physical, not, political attributes. Districts vary in nature and size, from the mainly agricultural (such as Conwy, Llanfrothen and Towyn) to the semi-urban (such as the Gwent Levels). Drainage districts are at risk from various sources of flooding. Without flood risk and water level management, drainage districts would be unsuitable to live in and would not protect and provide for the variety of agricultural land, utilities and transport networks that have developed within their boundaries. This dataset shows the location of the boundaries of Internal Drainage Districts within Wales including the maintained watercourses, tidal flaps, pumping stations and for for Caldicot & Wentlooge Levels & Lower Wye and Powysland it also shows locations of sluices. Current Drainage Districts as of 2022: Afon Ganol Ardudwy Marsh Borth Bog Caldicot & Wentlooge Levels & Lower Wye (Gwent Levels) Dysynni Valley Glaslyn - Pensyflog Harlech & Maentwrog Llanfrothen Malltraeth Marsh Mawddach & Wnion Powysland River Conwy Towyn
Modelled Distributions and Abundance of Cetaceans and Seabirds of Wales and Surrounding Waters This is a dataset is of modelled maximum and monthly (mean) densities of certain cetacean and seabird species in the Irish and Celtic seas around Wales. Modelled densities are derived from predictive modelling of sightings and environmental variables. Maximum maps represent the maximum density per 2.5km2 cell from the entire dataset. Monthly (seabirds and cetaceans) and decadal (cetaceans only) maps are expressed as mean density per 2.5km2 cell. Modelled maximum data can be downloaded using Data Map Wales. For monthly (for seabirds and cetaceans) and decadal (for cetaceans only) data follow this link. Seasons (for seabirds and cetaceans) and Seasons by Decade and Decades (for cetaceans only) can be constructed by combining the relevant monthly maps in GIS For more information about the datasets and methods, please see the NRW evidence report here: 646: Modelled Distributions and Abundance of Cetaceans and Seabirds of Wales and Surrounding Waters (cyfoethnaturiol.cymru) Attribution statement Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Derived using data from the Sea Watch Foundation and the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme.
The ‘NRW Local Model Manager’ shows the location of NRW’s detailed, local flood models which can be requested via datadistribution@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk NRW Local Model Manager is updated biannually to show up-to-date coverage of NRW’s flood models. Email datadistribution@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk to see if additional model data is available that is not displayed in the NRW Local Model Manager. All information supplied by NRW needs to be verified by the recipient PRIOR to using in a Flood Consequences Assessment (FCA) or modelling study. It is the sole responsibility of the user of the data to ensure it is fit for purpose for the intended end use. Attribution Statement Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
Heatmaps (geodatabases) were created for invasive non-native species pathways in Welsh waters including commercial shipping, recreational boating, aquaculture, fishing and offshore activities. Heatmaps were produced at both 2km x 2km and 5km x 5km resolutions and have associated symbology layers. An overall heatmap was also produced to highlight key areas which are likely most at risk from invasion of invasive non-native species. This assessment provides a valuable insight into hotspots related to each potential pathway of introduction, the areas where the main areas of risk overlap for the different pathways and their overlap with protected areas. The outputs from this assessment can form the basis to underpin biosecurity planning. It should be noted, however, that this was a national scale mapping exercise based only on freely available datasets, which themselves have limitations and possible inaccuracies due to incomplete coverage, both temporally and spatially. The scorings applied to the input datasets and weightings applied to the introduction pathways are also based on available literature and expert judgement. Site-specific activities and conditions will always be an important consideration, as well as temporal variations. Attribution statement:Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Royal Yachting Association (RYA) © 2022. © The Crown Estate. Copyright © All Rights Reserved. ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd 2022. © Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
Ecological connectivity is a key consideration in planning for effective biodiversity conservation and building ecosystem resilience through Resilient Ecological Networks (RENs). Modelled habitat networks can provide insights into how landscapes are likely to be functioning and inform the location of actions to improve the connectivity and resilience of protected sites. This spatial dataset consists of maps of habitat networks originally developed by Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) in collaboration with Forestry Commission Wales and Forest Research using a least-cost modelling approach, and now managed and progressively developed by Natural Resources Wales. Patches of habitat and other intervening habitats through which many of their species can move are mapped as habitat networks, which are available for habitats including native woodland, semi-natural grassland, heathland, bog, and fen. Results are available for the whole of Wales and include three levels of habitat networks; core networks (areas within which species that require extensive habitat and disperse poorly are able to move), focal networks (areas within which species tolerant of smaller habitat patches and with greater dispersal ability are able to move), and local networks (areas within species that can persist within small habitat patches and have very limited dispersal abilities can move). These habitat networks also form the basis of ‘Priority Ecological Networks’ (PENs), a subset of the ‘focal’ networks described above which have been selected against our suite of Protected Sites. Attribution statement Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.
The Marine protected area (MPA) network is a subset of existing protected sites that have marine features. Sites include: SACs, SPAs, Ramsars, SSSIs and MCZs.What features are considered marine is determined through expert groups of SNCBs led by JNCC. The list of MPA network features are hosted by JNCC https://hub.jncc.gov.uk/assets/8ee15786-510b-44e4-819e-e6681a1abd96
To better understand opportunities to build resilience in the Welsh marine environment, Natural Resources Wales commissioned a report to identify potential spatial opportunities to restore valuable marine habitats. The report created spatial products (Arc Geo database) for: areas in the floodplain that might be suitable for the creation of mudflat and saltmarsh through managed realignment and areas where the right conditions might exist for native oyster habitat and horse mussel bed restoration. The horse mussel data was provided from JNCC. The report also addresses restoration potential for Sabellaria alveolata reefs although no spatial data was created for this habitat and seagrass habitat, but this was provided as a map image from JNCC. These spatial data layers should be considered as initial aides to identifying potential locations or areas but come with several limitations which have been discussed in the report. Any restoration projects should undergo further site validation and local engagement before proceeding with any specific site. A variety of source data was used and merged to create a selection of GIS Layers listed in the abstract to identify spatial opportunities for restoration of marine and coastal habitats and species.
This is a dataset compiled of spatially-referenced survey data obtained from different intertidal communities (biotopes) in Wales. Maps include information on biotope location, target note location, access and photographs points locations. Sites are mapped once and therefore are a 'snapshot' in time. Survey methodology is based on 'Handbook for Marine Intertidal Phase 1 Biotope Mapping Survey'. Biotopes are based on the JNCC report `Marine Nature Conservation Review. The data available to the public under an Open Government Licence has some information redacted. An un-redacted version can be requested and may be provided under licence. Attribution Statement Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.
This project comprised of a detailed survey of plant communities in semi-natural lowland grassland vegetation across Wales. The purpose of this data capture was to characterise the semi-natural lowland grassland vegetation of Wales and to provide a systematic conservation assessment of the sites surveyed. The datasets which were produced from this project have been extensively validated and verified. However, the main limitation of these datasets is their age. Habitat composition may change over time due to successional trends, agricultural treatments or even planned developments, which means that there is no guarantee that the information within these datasets is still representative on the ground today. Attribution statement Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.