Developing real solutions to real challenges in Wales

National Park Authorities want to know more about the landscape they have been tasked to protect and the communities who live within and who visit it. Cardiff University and in particular the Sustainable Places Research Institute is looking for collaborative research projects for its students – it's a perfect match.

In a changing world, National Park Authorities need to not only stay abreast of changes, but also to articulate visions of rural development and to be renowned as areas where new solutions to environmental and rural issues are tried, tested and shared. This partnership agreement with Cardiff University offers real potential to foster and facilitate new collaborative research projects and provide the evidence base that is vital to the management of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Minister for Culture and Sport John Griffiths said "Our National Parks are a national asset and cover almost 25% of our land area here in Wales. I am therefore delighted to welcome this important agreement and am excited to see how this collaboration can help maintain the landscape, and develop natural resource management within the Brecon Beacons National Park."

Professor Alan Lovell a Member of the National Park Authority said "The latest step along this path is the Research Prospectus we have launched here today.  It represents a clear statement of intent to form research partnerships to help us to grapple with difficult themes and issues.  We hope the information we gain from this research will lead to better decisions that achieve better outcomes for our landscapes and its communities and visitors"

Speaking about the new partnership Professor Terry Marsden from the University's Sustainable Places Research Institute said "The cross cutting challenges and uncertainties of climate change, biodiversity loss, farming pressures, are some of the key areas of interest to us in The University.   National Parks are ideal places to undertake research in these areas, and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority are ideal partners for us to work with".

Background to the Partnership:

The purpose of this Strategic Partnership Agreement is to establish a cooperative framework between Cardiff University and Brecon Beacons National Park Authority which includes the following:

1. To promote both within and beyond the Collaboration the research expertise and capabilities of the Parties
2. To foster and facilitate new collaborative research projects between the Parties; (projects may require contractual or other formal agreements between the Parties, as appropriate)
3. To foster joint and collaborative research projects and funding from a range of external bodies within the research fields covered by the University's Sustainable Places Research Institute
4. To develop a student placement programme for Cardiff University students with BBNPA as well as exploring options for research projects to be undertaken as part of a Professional Doctorate programme

For more information, please contact:

Ruth Lovell,
Sustainable Places Research Institute
Cardiff University

Tel: 029 2087 0535
E-mail: LovellRE@cf.ac.uk