Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has been appointed as a Species Champion for Red Squirrels.
The Wales Environment Link (WEL) Species Champions initiative asks Assembly Members to lend political support to the protection of Wales’ special and threatened wildlife by becoming ‘Species Champions’.
The work of Species Champions will be important in ensuring that Wales meets the international target under the Convention on Biological Diversity to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020. It will also help to ensure Wales delivers on the ambitions within the Environment (Wales) Act and the Well-being of Future Generations Act.
Darren said:
“I am delighted to become a Species Champion for Red Squirrels, one of our most loved native animals. These beautiful creatures were once common throughout Wales, but there are now only three main populations remaining one being in my constituency in Clocaenog Forest, the other two being Anglesey and Mid Wales.
“Smaller pockets may persist but their long-term future is unknown. I look forward to doing all I can to protect this threatened species.”
Picture caption: Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar with James Byrne of Wildlife Trusts Wales.