Time to Restore Our Rivers
In December last year, I had the pleasure of meeting volunteers from UK Youth for Nature and The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales when they came to the Senedd to highlight the urgent need for stronger action to protect our freshwater environments. Representatives from both organisations shared their concerns directly with other Members of the Senedd, calling for more robust safeguards to restore the health of Wales’s rivers, streams, and wetlands. Their message was clear: without decisive intervention, the ecological condition of our waterways will continue to decline.
Their dedication and willingness to speak up for nature is a reminder that we all share a responsibility to protect Wales’s natural environment.
The concerns raised has stemmed from years of decline in our waters in Wales, this was confirmed in a report last year released by Natural Resource Wales (NRW), which concluded that an increasing number of Welsh rivers are failing on phosphate pollution levels, with seven out of nine Special Areas of Conservation now being heavily polluted.
The fundamental point with rising levels of phosphate in our rivers is that it can lead to a rapid growth of algae resulting in poor water quality. The algal growth prevents light from entering our rivers and uses up oxygen in the water which leads to suffocation of other species in the process.
The polluted waters can transfer on to fish deaths and harm to other species. High levels of phosphorous in our rivers are one of the biggest hurdles to our waters accomplishing acceptable ecological conditions.
In addition to the report, a fresh report this week from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) regarding a new habitat and species assessment has been released. This report emphasises the need for Wales to unite for nature’s recovery.
The report published on (22 January 2026) offers the most detailed and up-to-date overview to date of the condition of Wales’s most vulnerable species and habitats. By bringing together data on internationally important habitats, non-bird species, and all bird species in Wales.
The key findings in the report were:
Of 61 habitats assessed, only two were found to be in favourable condition when considered in their entirety across Wales, while nearly 80% of habitats are classed as “unfavourable-bad,”
Among 53 non-bird species, just 14 are in favourable condition, while 16 - including Atlantic salmon - are in serious decline.
For marine species, (not including marine birds), four are in favourable condition, while others remain poorly understood.
16 species - including the Marsh Fritillary butterfly and iconic plants such as the Fen Orchid – have experienced steep declines
While several bird species are declining nationally, some have significantly increased in Wales over the past two decades, including the Atlantic Puffin
Key pressures across habitats and species include agriculture, climate change, pollution and urban development, with additional impacts from disease on birds and water-related pressures on fish.
I have continuously called for more action to be taken to address the challenges facing our marine environment. The report highlighted the need for a stronger focus on protecting our marine species and habitats.
While the report does highlight that the agricultural sector contributes to pollution in our rivers, in my constituency, I know of no local farmers that contribute to this and it is vital that we note that the vast majority of our farmers dispose of waste in a sensible and responsible way. However, we must hold companies to account for any run-off into our Welsh rivers.
An increasingly concerning form of pollution in our waters is plastic pollution. I was shocked to learn in a meeting last year that there is currently no firm method of measuring plastic pollution in our rivers. This is deeply concerning, with plastics being found in water species in a survey conducted over the River Taff.
We must measure and address this problem, as well as hold our water companies to account for any leaks, such as the plastic discs used in wastewater treatment that appeared on beaches in Swansea and Gower, through fines, ensuring that this money is delivered back to Wales. In addition, funding currently allocated by the Welsh Government to initiatives such as heat pumps could be more effectively used to help tackle this crisis.
We need swift action from the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales to restore rivers for the benefit of both wildlife and local communities.
While the report does highlight that the agricultural sector contributes to pollution in our rivers, in my constituency, I know of no local farmers that contribute to this and it is vital that we note that the vast majority of our farmers dispose of waste in a sensible and responsible way. However, we must hold companies to account for any run-off into our Welsh rivers.
An increasingly concerning form of pollution in our waters is plastic pollution. I was shocked to learn in a meeting last year that there is currently no firm method of measuring plastic pollution in our rivers. This is deeply concerning, with plastics being found in water species in a survey conducted over the River Taff.
We must measure and address this problem, as well as hold our water companies to account for any leaks, such as the plastic discs used in wastewater treatment that appeared on beaches in Swansea and Gower, through fines, ensuring that this money is delivered back to Wales. In addition, funding currently allocated by the Welsh Government to initiatives such as heat pumps could be more effectively used to help tackle this crisis.
We need swift action from the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales to restore rivers for the benefit of both wildlife and local communities.
Janet Elizabeth Finch‑Saunders MP is a Welsh Conservative Party politician serving as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Aberconwy since 2011 and currently the Shadow Minister for Climate Change.
