Last updated: October 2021
The reserve is a biodiversity hot-spot within Cardiff Bay. The reedbed and other aquatic plants, are very productive vegetation and a habitat for birds. Prior to the construction of the Cardiff Bay Barrage, it was made up of mudflats and salt marsh. (Ref 1) The site was chosen by Cardiff Harbour Authority to create a new environment and compensate in part for the loss of the mudflats which were submerged after completion of the Cardiff Bay Barrage. Floating timber structures serve as breeding areas for birds, an underwater bund prevents wave erosion, and a boom keeps out waterborne debris (Ref 5).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Focus
Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Protection of natural ecosystems, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
1. Wetlands were created to provide important habitat for many species (ref 1).
2. Established wetland compensated (in part) for the loss of the mudflats which were submerged after completion of the Cardiff Bay Barrage (ref 5).
3. The targeted habitats for the Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve, as set out in the ‘Cardiff Bay Wetlands Management Proposals’ are:
• Reed beds
• Tall-herb fen
• Ditch habitats
• Freshwater ‘open’ lagoons. (ref 2)
Implementation activities
The wetlands were created when the barrage was completed and the previous saline mudflats were transformed into freshwater marshland and a 400 acre lake. (ref 7)
-a boom keeps out waterborne debris (ref 5)
An underwater bund prevents wave erosion (ref 5)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore endangered species
- Clear and control invasive alien species
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Harbour Authority developed and manages the Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve. Maintenance activities are undertaken in partnership with Cardiff Council’s Park Ranger service. (ref 6). The Harbour Authority undertakes a range of environmental duties in accordance with the requirements of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Act and other environmental legislation. These include monitoring and maintaining water quality standards, and protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment. (ref 6)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Cardiff Bay Barrage Act :The Harbour Authority undertakes a range of environmental duties in accordance with the requirements of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Act and other environmental legislation. These include monitoring and maintaining water quality standards, and protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment. (ref 6))
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Other
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Wikiwand (wikipedia). (No date). Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on Jul 5 2020]
2. Reed, J.P., (2007). Plant and animal community changes associated with the Cardiff Bay Barrage. Cardiff University (United Kingdom). [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
3. Parks and Gardens. (No date). Hamadryad Park and Cardiff Bay Wetlands Nature Reserve, Cardiff, Wales. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
4. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). (No date). Where the Directive failed to stop damaging development. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
5. HistoryPoints. (No Date). Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
6. Cardiff Harbour. (No date). Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
7. Cardiff Countryside. (No Date). Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. [Website not accessible in 2020].
8. Cardiff harbour Archives. (No date). Wetlands Reserve. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020]
2. Reed, J.P., (2007). Plant and animal community changes associated with the Cardiff Bay Barrage. Cardiff University (United Kingdom). [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
3. Parks and Gardens. (No date). Hamadryad Park and Cardiff Bay Wetlands Nature Reserve, Cardiff, Wales. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
4. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). (No date). Where the Directive failed to stop damaging development. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
5. HistoryPoints. (No Date). Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
6. Cardiff Harbour. (No date). Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020].
7. Cardiff Countryside. (No Date). Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. [Website not accessible in 2020].
8. Cardiff harbour Archives. (No date). Wetlands Reserve. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 5 2020]