WIREDGOV

• Optimising productivity in the Uplands
• Optimising land use in the Uplands
• Economic development
• Access to Services
• Enabling vibrant Uplands

Mr Davies said:

"The Uplands play a vitally important in role in the economic, ecological and cultural life of Wales.

"They comprise some of our most important ecological systems and the fragile communities are culturally and linguistically significant. However they are subject to a range of pressures and challenges which threaten their future.

"This report sets out how the Welsh government and partners can meet those challenges in order to secure a vibrant, sustainable future for the Uplands. I will now look at how we can implement the recommendations of the report to achieve that."

Mr Davies added that he expected the Wales Upland Forum to have an important role in helping to implement, and possibly scrutinise, the delivery of the recommendations.

The six recommendations in the report are:

1. Develop a targeted programme of support in the Uplands linking with Welsh Government priorities for economic growth, jobs, social inclusion and tackling poverty.
2. Develop a targeted package of support through the next Rural Development Plan.
3. Consider a new approach to optimising land management to ensure that opportunities for increasing income to the Uplands, securing the natural and cultural heritage of the area, and benefiting Welsh society more widely are capitalised on across the range of products and services delivered by the uplands.
4. A renewed focus on the productivity of agriculture and woodlands in the uplands.
5. Increase awareness of what the Uplands can offer in terms of food, farming, nature, recreation, landscape and culture. Ensuring the Uplands are included in future strategic tourism plans and National Marketing Campaigns
6. Develop locally based and community run services to meet local needs.