Gwent Levels - Resilient Ecological Networks
Natural Resources Wales
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 Zones and Nature Recovery Zones.
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).
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)
- Priority Ecological Networks (PENs): Priority Ecological Networks (PENs) | DataMapWales
Please note: The Core Zone and Nature Recovery Zone individual map layers are based on the Natural Resources Wales / Practitioners’ guide to Resilient Ecological Networks and collaborative workshops. There is an NRW evidence report available titled ‘Gwent Levels. Mapping Resilient Ecological Network core zones and nature recovery zones.’ outlining the methodology Natural Resources Wales / Research and reports.
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.
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
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Spatial data (2)
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nrw_gwent_levels_cz
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nrw_gwent_levels_nrz
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- Type:
- Spatial data
- Category:
- Environment
- Publication date:
- 08 July 2025
- Licence:
- Open Government Licence for Public Sector Information (OGL)
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Copyright:
- Point of contact:
- opendata@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
- Language
- English