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Celtic Rainforests Wales has received funding from the EU LIFE programme and Welsh Government to restore temperate rainforests across Wales during a seven year project. Recognising the rarity of this habitat, which occurs on less than 1% of the planet’s surface, Celtic Rainforests Wales seeks to improve habitat condition, increase resilience, demonstrate best practice and restore ecosystem function in rainforest environments.

West Wales

Celtic Rainforests Wales activities

Celtic Rainforests Wales (Coedwigoedd Glaw Celtaidd Cymru) focuses on four primary locations for restoration : Eryri & Meirionnydd, Coed Cwm Einion, Coed Cwm Doethie – Mynydd Mallaen, and Coed Cwm Elan. Notably the Welsh 'Coed Cwm' roughly translates as 'forest valley' in English. In foregrounding these descriptive Welsh names, Welsh language, culture and ecosystems are simultaneously championed by the rainforest restoration project.

Across these four sites, the project supports ancient woodland restoration, the eradication of invasive non-native species (namely Rhododendron but also Montbretia and American skunk cabbage) and conservation grazing . Various smart forest technologies are employed across the sites. For example, no-fence cattle collars have been used to foster conservation grazing and browsing, and prevent overgrazing.

The project also promotes knowledge exchange and environmental education through citizen science, volunteering and events, and through sharing its resource library and school education materials open access on its website.

The project is supported by the Alliance for Wales ' Rainforests (AWR), a partnership of environment-oriented organisations, including the Woodland Trust Wales and RSPB Wales. AWR published a State of Wales' Rainforests report in 2024.

The seven-year project timeline may raise questions about the temporal wake of such projects, perhaps highlighting the challenge of ensuring restoration projects are sustained and embedded, and online educational resources are hosted long-term.

Temporate rainforest

Screen grab of the homepage of Celtic Rainforests Wales