Threat of landfill sites to Marine Protected Area (MPA) habitat features in Wales

The map package illustrates the potential overall threat that coastal landfill sites in Wales pose to Marine Protected Area (MPA) habitat features under three time periods: the present-day epoch (2005-2025), the medium-term epoch (2025-2055) and the long-term epoch (2055-2105).


The overall threat presented in the map package is determined by combining the risk of waste being released from a landfill site with the vulnerability of MPA habitat features to that waste should a release occur. The map package therefore presents the results of a high-level assessment of the potential impacts of coastal landfill sites on MPAs.


The study was undertaken to provide an initial assessment of these impacts and to identify where regional or site-specific investigations may be required to better understand the threats posed by coastal landfill sites to MPA features.


The map package also includes the boundaries of NRW Operational Areas and Marine Protected Areas. In addition, Excel files containing the attribute tables associated with the GIS datasets are provided.


Further information on the rationale, methods, results and assumptions underpinning the assessment can be found in Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Evidence Report 673.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS125457
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

The coastal landfill sites used in this dataset are derived from the Historic Landfill Sites spatial dataset (< https://datamap.gov.wales/layers/inspire-nrw:NRW_Historic_Landfill_Sites >) and a dataset of currently licensed landfill sites provided by NRW.


Overall threat was determined as a combination of the risk of waste being released from a landfill site and the vulnerability of Marine Protected Area (MPA) habitat features to such waste should it be released.


This report and supporting data provide a high-level approach for identifying which coastal landfill sites have the greatest potential to pose a threat to MPA features in Wales. Given the high-level nature of the assessment, its purpose was to inform where more detailed investigations should be undertaken for specific landfill sites or regions of concern.


Due to the level of confidence associated with some of the project outputs, the information should not be used to derive accurate site-specific conclusions. Instead, future studies should use location-specific data to refine the results of this assessment. For example, information on local hydrodynamics, environmental conditions, existing management measures, the precise contents and contamination levels of landfill sites, and the sensitivity of specific habitats and species to landfill-related pressures would improve understanding of site-specific impacts.


Further information on the rationale, methods, results and assumptions underpinning this assessment can be found in Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Evidence Report 673.
Additional Information

Robbins, K; Bernard, B; Brooks, A; Frost, N. 2023. Investigating the impact of landfill sites at the coast on Marine Protected Area features in Wales. NRW Evidence Report. Report No: 673, Natural Resources Wales, Cardiff.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2023-03-23

Temporal Extent

Begin date
2022-04-01
End date
2023-03-31
 
Topic category
  • Environment
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd -
Suite B, Waterside House, Town Quay, Southampton, SO14 2AQ, England
http://www.abpmer.co.uk/
 

Extent

Extent

Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 
 

Distribution

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Documents ( Unknown )

    Specification

    Final report in Microsoft Word and PDF formats (NRW Evidence Report No. 673).

  • Geographic Information System ( Unknown )

    Specification

    GIS layers used to create the maps.

  • Delimited ( Unknown )

    Specification

    Excel tables containing threat scores and habitat sensitivity information.

 

Quality

Data quality

Quality Scope
Dataset
Conformity
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation

This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
Degree
false
Lineage

The coastal landfill sites used in this dataset are derived from the Historic Landfill Sites spatial dataset (< https://datamap.gov.wales/layers/inspire-nrw:NRW_Historic_Landfill_Sites >) and a dataset of currently licensed landfill sites provided by NRW.


Overall threat was determined as a combination of the risk of waste being released from a landfill site and the vulnerability of Marine Protected Area (MPA) habitat features to such waste should it be released.


This report and supporting data provide a high-level approach for identifying which coastal landfill sites have the greatest potential to pose a threat to MPA features in Wales. Given the high-level nature of the assessment, its purpose was to inform where more detailed investigations should be undertaken for specific landfill sites or regions of concern.


Due to the level of confidence associated with some of the project outputs, the information should not be used to derive accurate site-specific conclusions. Instead, future studies should use location-specific data to refine the results of this assessment. For example, information on local hydrodynamics, environmental conditions, existing management measures, the precise contents and contamination levels of landfill sites, and the sensitivity of specific habitats and species to landfill-related pressures would improve understanding of site-specific impacts.


Further information on the rationale, methods, results and assumptions underpinning this assessment can be found in Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Evidence Report 673.
 

Keywords

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • marine protected areas(marine consultation areas)(sensitive marine areas)seealso marine conservation&marine nature reserve
  • pollution (see also specific types of pollution eg. oil pollution)
  • coastal landscapes
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2026-08-27
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

Part of this dataset may be classed as sensitive regarding landfill sites, and access may be restricted under relevant legislation.
 

Use Constraints

Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW. NRW does NOT grant permission to third parties to re-use or disseminate the full dataset. A redacted version of the data may be re-used under an OGL subject to a full open data assessment.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
 

Licence

Other constraints
NRW Conditional
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313235343537 XML
Metadata Language
English
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-09-30T09:34:42.985Z
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

pointOfContact
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 
 

Publishing Body

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