Plans to protect hundreds of miles of riverbank in South Wales are being drawn-up after ecologists completed the first year of a major survey into their condition.
The four-year survey was commissioned by Forestry Commission Wales as part of a strategy for managing the land 20 metres each side of the streams and rivers which run through Welsh Assembly Government-owned woodlands.
FC Wales will use the data to prioritise work to protect 690km of riverbanks and watercourses – known as riparian areas – which provide a habitat for species such as fish, birds, reptiles and insects.
During the first year of the study, which aims to restore large areas of south Wales to their native vegetation cover, ecologists surveyed over 190km of riparian areas in the Heads of the Valleys.
They identified threats from invasive species such as Rhododendron ponticum, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam, as well as migration barriers for fish such as erosion and debris build-up in dams and blocked culverts.
The ecologists also analysed the present condition of watercourses and riverside plants, along with the types of trees and factors which might make management more difficult, such as steep slopes or wet ground.
FC Wales Conservation Manager Rosalind Codd said the first year’s results were encouraging and showed that many watercourses were fine, though there were a number of issues to be addressed.
She said: “A preliminary analysis of the results shows that a number of sites display operational constraints due to the steep slopes and rough terrain surrounding the watercourse.”
“As with many rivers and streams across south Wales, a number of watercourses within Assembly Government woodlands are susceptible to some level of invasive species along their edges.
“However, a more in-depth analysis is required before we get a clear picture of the current condition of these watercourses.”
It is hoped that the results of the survey will not only assist FC Wales with future work but also feed into the information held by Environment Agency Wales on watercourses in Assembly Government woodlands.