The current SWEN focus is on:

1. improving the website to enable members to be signposted & well networked. Continuing to work towards SWEN being a central hub for contacts, information & events;

2. building the community of delivery partners across the South West including Local Authorities & local environment networks;

3. organising significant Plenary sessions which professionally update members on developing areas and provide an opportunity to network;

4. campaigning the Priorities at every opportunity; upload best practice news stories, track Priorities on the website with discussion Boards for each priority;

5. continuing to develop the Evidence portal with SW Observatory & capacity to offer analysis on the evidence.

The SWEN 2010 Environment Priorities were launched on March 30th and a downloadable pdf is available here: SWEN 2010 Environment Priorities.

The discussion of the Environment Priorities at our 30th March plenary fully endorsed SWEN's direction and confirmed the long wish list of things to do given the resources.

As Richard Cresswell from the Environment Agency indicated in his opening delivery, partnerships and effective networking are now more important than ever with the current reduced resource availability. He emphasised the strength of SWEN is the Network itself which is key to delivery of the priorities.

If you would like more detail on this please contact Jo Traill Thomson.

Other documents available to download include:

Planning for one planet living report

Environment Kernow Enviro Limits

The SWEN Management Group 2010 

The Management Group for 2010 is: Mark Robins - RSPB, Kevin Ward - Environment Agency, Phil Collins - Natural England, Dave Dixon - SW Protected Landscapes, Simon Brenman - SW Wildlife Trusts,  Steve Crummay - Cornwall County Council, Cate le Grice-Mack (CPRE),  and Steve Marfleet (GOSW).  The Management Group will operate without a Chair and will allocate tasks across the group.  Where required the first point of contact is Jo Traill Thomson.  

The South West Environment Network's Environmental Priorities are agreed by SWEN to be the most important outcomes needed for making sure our environment provides what we need within the overarching vision of One Planet Living in the South West.

These priorities can only be achieved by working at a policy and delivery level across a broad range of partners and stakeholders, within REN and beyond, committed to ensuring the value of the benefits the environment provides are properly taken into account in decision making. 

The priorities are structured around Defra's ecosystems approach to better define the benefits our environment provides and are linked to the SW Regional Observatory State of the SW Environment module that helps indentify the state of the environment we need and the challenges and issues relating to the current state of the environment guiding what we need to happen most.                

The refresh of the Regional Strategy for the SW Environment - Our Environment: Our Future will develop in more detail how these priority outcomes may be achieved.  Combined these documents are the regions environmental toolkit to inform and influence regional policy and delivery.  

State of the Environment in the South West - draft landscape chapter

 The draft Landscape chapter for the State of Environment Report (main text and attachments) are now available for comment.  Please send comments toleslie.pearman@naturalengland.org.uk by 27th July 2009. 

The following files are available to download:

• Draft landscape chapter (word document)

• Landscape designation map (jpeg)

• Countryside Quality Counts - assessment of change to National Character Areas (word)
• Future Landscapes Phase 1 technical report (pdf)

• South West Regional Landscape Partnership terms of reference (word document)

• South West map of areas disturbed by visual or noise intrusion in the early 1960s (TIF file)

• South West map of areas disturbed by visual or noise intrusion in the 1990s (TIF file)

• South West map of areas disturbed by visual or noise intrusion in 2007 (TIF file)

• Monitoring tranquillity in the South West (word document)

• Tranquillity map of the South West 2007 (pdf)

SWEN Alert!

SWEN Alert! contains the latest news and updates from the Regional Environment Network partners, including reports, events, news and consultations.

You can download the latest and archive additions below.

Planning for one planet: widening the application of environmental limits

Planning for one planet: widening the application of environmental limits is now available to download.

Environmental limits is an aim commonly shared by government, business and public sectors at many levels, as well as the wider public and voluntary organisations. This research examines and develops the concept of what is meant by environmental limits in this context, and explores its practical applications so as to promote sustainability.

The approach adopted involved various bodies from the South West Region. The ideas and work presented here were developed in close association with the South West Regional Development Agency and other partners in the SW Regional Environmental Network, particularly the Federation of Small Businesses and South West Tourism who provided case studies (we also grateful to the RDA for some financial assistance).

This report has a South West regional focus but has considered its findings in the context of both regional and national initiatives. The implications of the report’s conclusions are national in scope and potential application.

Environment Kernow Envirolimits

The Environment Kernow Envirolimits report is now available to download.  The Enviro-limits project has three key aims:

1. Produce an evidence base for key environmental data in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly and, identify gaps in the evidence

2. Provide details of principal environmental factors that limit population and economic growth, such as
   food, energy and water

3. Establish the preparedness of Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly for a sustainable future.

For the economy and population of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to develop and grow there must be an understanding of its current position in terms of resources, limitations and environmental impacts. This information can be sued to make accurate and informed strategic decisions through techniques such as scenario modelling. It is prudent that this method for progress is adopted given the challenges posed by resource use and climate change.

The key findings of the project are:

• Partial or complete lack of data for some basic living requirements

• A lack of coherent environmental data management

• Strategic plans seemingly unsupported by an accurate evidence base

• An increasing demand on resources despite a limited and declining supply

• To date, relatively little leadership and influence from local government to change attitudes and
  behaviour