A new initiative aimed at tackling the deepening environmental crisis in Wales is gaining momentum, as conservationists rally public support to launch a pioneering Nature Investigations Unit.
The project, developed by the Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC), seeks to hold environmental decision-makers to account and reverse the alarming decline of wildlife and habitats across the country.
The proposed unit will bring together a team of experienced journalists, campaigners, and researchers tasked with investigating the root causes of nature’s decline in Wales. Their work will focus on exposing harmful policies, challenging inaction, and proposing evidence-based solutions to restore biodiversity and protect the natural environment.
“Nature in Wales is in a terrible state,” said Iolo Williams, naturalist, broadcaster, and Honorary President of INCC. “A large part of that is a government that doesn’t seem to care about wildlife, and the almost complete absence of a statutory environmental body. If we are ever going to reverse the woeful position wildlife finds itself in, then we need to hold decision makers to account. INCC’s project will do just that.”
The call for action comes amid growing concern that the nature conservation sector in Wales is losing its battle to protect the environment. Campaigners point to years of government cuts, the weakening of Natural Resources Wales, and the degradation of protected wildlife sites as evidence of systemic failure.
INCC argues that a new approach is urgently needed — one that prioritises transparency, accountability, and public engagement. Over the next three years, the Nature Investigations Unit aims to lead this shift by scrutinising environmental decisions and advocating for stronger protections for nature.
The campaign has already raised over £180,000, but additional funding is needed to fully launch the unit and sustain its work.
The public is being urged to support the initiative in several ways:
- Donate to help fund the unit’s investigations and advocacy work.
- Fundraise by starting a campaign through the INCC’s online platform.
- Share the campaign with friends, family, and colleagues.
- Create and post videos explaining why nature matters to you.
- Encourage employers to support the cause through sponsorship or donations.
“This is about changing the way we protect nature in Wales,” said a spokesperson for INCC. “We need to stop the war on nature — and that starts with holding those in power to account.”
For more information or to donate, visit our Crowdfunder page
