Exciting news…the updated Wales Activity Mapping (WAM) website and Geographical Information System (GIS) viewing tool is now live!
WAM is a collaborative stakeholder project which provides detailed information on a range of marine and coastal activities, displayed in a mapped GIS. Funded by the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority the project maps the type, amount and location of recreational activities taking place on the South West Wales coastline.
The project follows an evidence based approach to collecting recreation and coastal management information and has been identified as a valuable tool to help develop understanding of current and likely future coastal recreation trends, to inform marine planning and coastal land managers.
Data was initially compiled in 2008 and PCF worked collaboratively with many stakeholders to update the data 10 years on. During 2019 a digital based survey methodology was developed. Survey interviews were carried out between April and September 2019 with 93 contacts, ranging from outdoor recreation professionals, coastal land managers and community council representatives. The survey encompasses 45 activities and 124 coastal sites, running from Poppit Sands in the north to Bridgend in the south, in line with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) South West Area Statement.
A new component of the project involved working in conjunction with an ecological consultant to develop a protocol for determining and mapping potential risks to marine conservation features from recreational activities, focusing on recreational disturbance to designated sites.
Newly compiled data from 2019 surveys have generated fresh map layers, allowing 2008 and 2019 information to be compared via the map and trends highlighted.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone that contributed their time and knowledge, providing valued input to the project over the past year.