English: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd, and thank you, Minister, for the statement. I think there's one thing we can agree on and that is the need to protect 30 per cent of our land and sea by 2030. Now, however, as you know, I've been asking, since October, what is the reason why we can't set these targets into law. You responded to me then, saying, 'I am considering the role that legislation can play in underpinning nature recovery targets more broadly, including the 30x30 target.' So, eight months on, have you made a legislative decision on the 30x30 target, or are you going to make Wales wait until you have the outcome of the biodiversity deep dive? I suppose, for me, it's a little extraordinary that the statement has just been made in relation to the Gwent levels specifically, because it gives me the impression that you regard the SSIs there with greater priority and importance than those in every other corner of Wales. If not, will we be seeing oral statements on SSIs everywhere else in Wales coming forward? What is the crux, really, of this statement? Is it that you are taking steps to further campaign against an M4 relief road for Newport? And, in light of the decision to review the suitability of land that was acquired for the M4 relief road, will you clarify whether it is your ambition to see the land blocked from being used for a highway, and state - tell us - how much the consultants are being paid for the strategic enhancement plan? As you know, the Gwent levels working group has already been created to explore better methods of protecting the Gwent levels, while acknowledging the need to maintain the area's significant historical importance to Wales. The working group is made up of representatives from the Welsh Government, NRW and other environmental NGOs, and they've met six times since it was formed, but have yet to publish an action plan. And according to you, any plan formalised would not necessarily be made public. I suppose I ask why that's the case. And how can we expect the people of Wales to entrust us with safeguarding them and their livelihoods, if you will not consult and communicate with them on your action plan for the Gwent levels? Currently, Wales is the only country in the UK that is not contributing data to the UK biodiversity indicator on the condition of areas or sites of special scientific interest. So, as a result, 70 per cent of the 60 SSI feature condition assessments on the Gwent levels are unknown. So, why, Minister, has the Welsh Government been so inactive on changing this by taking the initiative to improve data collection? And what assurances can you give that the target of having 100 per cent of SSIs in a favourable condition by 2026 will be achieved? It's not just me that's worried about this. In fact, Wales Environment Link have produced a checklist for nature recovery. It includes how Ministers do need to be engaged in delivering a coherent response, as well as regular monitoring, review and reporting against targets. So, Minister, would you outline what steps you have taken to co-operate with environmental stakeholders, so that any future work is developed based on a broad and experienced group? And can we, please, have some transparency and allow any reports, any plans, to be made public? Thank you. Diolch.
Welsh: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch, Gweinidog, am y datganiad. Rwy'n credu bod un peth y gallwn ni gytuno arno a dyna'r angen i ddiogelu 30 y cant o'n tir a'n môr erbyn 2030. Nawr, fodd bynnag, fel y gwyddoch chi, rwyf i wedi bod yn gofyn, ers mis Hydref, beth yw'r rheswm pam na allwn ni osod y targedau hyn yn y gyfraith. Gwnaethoch chi ymateb i mi bryd hynny, gan ddweud, 'Rwy'n ystyried y rhan y gall deddfwriaeth ei chwarae wrth ategu targedau adfer natur yn ehangach, gan gynnwys y targed 30x30.' Felly, wyth mis yn ddiweddarach, a ydych chi wedi gwneud penderfyniad deddfwriaethol ar y targed 30x30, neu a ydych chi'n mynd i wneud i Gymru aros nes y cewch chi ganlyniad yr ystyriaeth fanwl o fioamrywiaeth? Rwy'n tybio, i mi, ei bod hi braidd yn rhyfeddol bod y datganiad newydd gael ei wneud ynglŷn â gwastadeddau Gwent yn benodol, oherwydd mae'n rhoi'r argraff i mi eich bod chi'n ystyried y SoDdGA yno gyda mwy o flaenoriaeth a phwysigrwydd na'r rhai ym mhob cwr arall o Gymru. Os na, a fyddwn ni'n gweld datganiadau llafar yn cael eu cyflwyno ar SoDdGA ym mhobman arall yng Nghymru? Beth yw craidd y datganiad hwn, mewn gwirionedd? Ai eich bod chi'n cymryd camau i ymgyrchu ymhellach yn erbyn ffordd liniaru'r M4 ar gyfer Casnewydd? Ac, yng ngoleuni'r penderfyniad i adolygu addasrwydd tir a gafodd ei gaffael ar gyfer ffordd liniaru'r M4, a wnewch chi egluro ai eich uchelgais chi yw gweld y tir yn cael ei rwystro rhag cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer priffordd, a datgan - dywedwch chi wrthym ni - faint y mae'r ymgynghorwyr yn cael eu talu am y cynllun gwella strategol? Fel y gwyddoch chi, mae gweithgor gwastadeddau Gwent eisoes wedi'i greu i archwilio dulliau gwell o ddiogelu gwastadeddau Gwent, wrth gydnabod yr angen i gynnal pwysigrwydd hanesyddol sylweddol yr ardal i Gymru. Mae'r gweithgor yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o Lywodraeth Cymru, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a chyrff anllywodraethol amgylcheddol eraill, ac maen nhw wedi cyfarfod chwe gwaith ers ei ffurfio, ond nid ydyn nhw wedi cyhoeddi cynllun gweithredu eto. Ac yn ôl chi, ni fyddai unrhyw gynllun a fyddai'n cael ei ffurfioli o reidrwydd yn cael ei gyhoeddi. Rwy'n tybio fy mod i'n gofyn pam mae hynny'n wir. A sut y gallwn ni ddisgwyl i bobl Cymru ymddiried ynom ni i'w diogelu nhw a'u bywoliaeth, os na fyddwch chi'n ymgynghori a chyfathrebu â nhw ar eich cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer gwastadeddau Gwent? Ar hyn o bryd, Cymru yw'r unig wlad yn y DU nad yw'n cyfrannu data at ddangosydd bioamrywiaeth y DU ar gyflwr ardaloedd neu safleoedd o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig. Felly, o ganlyniad, nid yw 70 y cant o'r 60 asesiad cyflwr nodweddion SoDdGA ar lefelau Gwent yn hysbys. Felly, pam, Gweinidog, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod mor anweithgar wrth newid hyn drwy gymryd y cam cyntaf i wella'r broses o gasglu data? A pha sicrwydd y gallwch chi ei roi y bydd y targed o gael 100 y cant o SoDdGA mewn cyflwr ffafriol erbyn 2026 yn cael ei gyflawni? Nid fi yn unig sy'n poeni am hyn. Yn wir, mae Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru wedi cynhyrchu rhestr wirio ar gyfer adfer natur. Mae'n cynnwys sut y mae angen i Weinidogion fod yn rhan o'r gwaith o ddarparu ymateb cydlynol, yn ogystal â monitro, adolygu ac adrodd yn rheolaidd o gymharu â thargedau. Felly, Gweinidog, a wnewch chi'n amlinellu pa gamau yr ydych chi wedi'u cymryd i gydweithredu â rhanddeiliaid amgylcheddol, fel y caiff unrhyw waith yn y dyfodol ei ddatblygu ar sail grŵp eang a phrofiadol? Ac a allwn ni, os gwelwch yn dda, gael rhywfaint o dryloywder a chaniatáu i unrhyw adroddiadau, unrhyw gynlluniau, gael eu cyhoeddi? Diolch.