The Cambrian Mountains are an area of unspoilt upland landscape forming the heartlands of Wales supporting valued habitats and species and ways of farming that have traditional roots stretching back to the middle ages.

Like the majority of the uplands in the UK, the Cambrians are facing significant challenges which are all the more acute because of their deeply rural character.  These range from the declining nature of upland farming and ongoing reforms to the European and national support that farmers receive, to the in-migration of retirees and out-migration of young workers changing the demographic profile of communities.  Overall the Cambrians face a decline in the economic viability of their rural communities, which is countered by an increasing realisation of the importance of their environmental quality to economic and social well being.

Launched in 2007, the Cambrian Mountains Initiative is a collaborative project involving the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Princes’ Charities and the local authorities of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys.  The aim of the initiative is to put into practice a working example of Integrated Rural Development within the rural based economy. The Initiative is a working collaboration between communities, projects and all levels of the public, private and voluntary sector to achieve a sustainable future for the Cambrian Mountains.

The study conducted by LUC explored the geographical scope of the initiative, the social, economic, environmental and financial resources of the area, its local distinctiveness and sense of place, the range of organisations operating in the area, delivery mechanisms, and issues and opportunities affecting the area.  Advice was provided on how the initiative could be developed drawing on best practice in Europe and considering options and indicative costs for its implementation.  The work drew on significant data collection, modelling of economic characteristics, discussions with key organisations and a stakeholder workshop. 

Following LUC’s influential report, the initiative has been taken forward by the local authorities and the Prince’s Charities in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government, Countryside Council for Wales and Tourism Mid Wales Partnership.  Other partners in the Cambrian Mountains Initiative include Cadw, Dunbia, Environment Agency Wales, Eversheds, FBA, Food Centre Wales, Forestry Commission, Grant Thornton, Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales, Menter a Busnes, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, Sequence, The Cooperative Group and The National Trust. The foundation work laid by LUC should help ensure that the Cambrian Mountains lead the way in developing innovative and locally-rooted solutions to the problems facing remote rural areas.

In order to integrate all efforts made as part of the initiative, a Cambrian Mountains Initiative Steering Group co-ordinates the different project elements. Four working groups have now been established to take progress further. These include the Produce Marketing group, which has already successfully secured a lamb contract with the Co-operative supermarket ; an Ecosystem Services Group, which has been contributing to the wider Axis II review of agri-environment schemes in Wales; a Tourism Marketing Group to promote the Cambrians as a Tourism destination and a Built Environment, Heritage and Communities Group to take forward proposals for these elements of the initiative.

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