Gwent Levels - Resilient Ecological Networks
Resilient Ecological Networks (RENs), are networks of habitat linking protected sites and other biodiversity hotspots across the wider landscape, providing maximum benefit for biodiversity and human well-being. Such networks have existing or potential for healthy resilient ecosystems, which provide a range of important ecosystem services, as well as allowing the movement of species across landscapes in response to climate change and disruptive or adverse events. The maintenance, enhancement and re-creation of RENs are vital for nature recovery.
RENs are composed of Core Zones (including protected sites such as SSSIs) and Nature Recovery Zones. These mapped together form an applied opportunity map for a Network.
The current layers available are the mapped products of the Gwent Levels Nature Network, which define resilient ecological networks in this area: Core and Nature Recovery Zone.
As well as this set of priority networks, it is useful to also be able to view these layers alongside other open datasets available which are the:
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest NRW_DS98776
- Priority Ecological Networks NRW_DS125572
The output of the project has identified 42 core zones covering 18,979 hectares (ha) and 86 nature recovery zones covering 2,214 ha as two GIS layers. These broadly comprise freshwater, fen, bog, semi-natural grassland, and native woodland ecosystems. The Core Zone layer is based on sites designated for nature conservation in Wales (SAC, SSSI, NNRs, SINC, Priority habitats as identified in Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act, and Ancient Woodland database).
These layers highlight areas of opportunity and serve as an evidence base to support action planning, while remaining flexible and not prescriptive in terms of specific conservation measures.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS161346
- Alternative Title
-
- Gwent Levels Nature Recovery Zones.lyr
- Gwent Levels Core Zone.lyr
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
Core Zone layer is based on sites desginated for nature conservation in Wales (SAC, SSSI, NNRs, SINC and Ancient Woodland database).
Full methodology can be found in the NRW Evidence Report titled in the additional information.
- Additional Information
-
Hancocks, E., Thomas, R., Waters, E. [2025]. Gwent Levels. Mapping Resilient Ecological Network core zones and nature recovery zones. NRW Evidence Reports. Report No: 855, 67 pp, Natural Resources Wales, Cardiff.
- Dataset Reference Date (Creation)
- 2025-04-09
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2024-04-01
- End date
- 2025-04-09
- Topic category
-
- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Distribution
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Documents
(
)
- Specification
-
NRW Evidence Report in Word or PDF Format
-
Geographic Information System
(
)
- Specification
-
ESRI Feature Class
-
Documents
(
)
- Resource Locator
- View and Download ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
- Resource Locator
- Web Mapping Service ( OGC:WMS )
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
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This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
- Degree
- false
- Lineage
-
Core Zone layer is based on sites desginated for nature conservation in Wales (SAC, SSSI, NNRs, SINC and Ancient Woodland database).
Full methodology can be found in the NRW Evidence Report titled in the additional information.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
-
NRW Thesaurus
-
- calcicolous ecosystems
- ecosystem services
- Newport Wetlands Reserve (see also Gwent Levels Wetlands Reserve)
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2025-01-08
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- noLimitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
-
There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
-
© CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
Attribution Statement
- Other constraints
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Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Contains Data Derived from Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Newport Local Authorities and Data Collected as part of the Living Levels Partnership and Gwent Wildlife Trust
Licence
- Other constraints
- Open Government Licence