English: I am fortunate enough to represent part of Snowdonia National Park, a distinctive area in terms of landscape, nature and way of life. As well as being one of the most beautiful places on earth, Snowdonia is also home to 26,000 people, many of whom work in the park from day to day. In recent years, there has been explosive growth in one part of the economy in the area, namely outdoor tourism. According to one study, this sector contributed more than £480 million to the Welsh economy. In terms of Snowdonia, expanding the outdoor sector is a cornerstone of Gwynedd's economic strategy, given that it's recognised as one of a number of growth sectors in the area, and the emphasis is on promoting business opportunities for local young people. It is an economic activity entirely in keeping with the two statutory purposes of a national park, namely, as we've heard, conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the areas, and promoting opportunities for the public to understand and enjoy the special characteristics of their areas. As we've heard, in the event of conflict between these two statutory purposes, the national park authority must give priority to the Sandford principle. That's the situation at present. Evidently, this principle is vital to many - certainly to many who have contacted me over the past few days. And many of those are perplexed that there is no reference to this principle in the report being discussed today. It is entirely appropriate to review the purpose of the designated areas, of course, and this was done under the guidance of Professor Terry Marsden, and then came the publication of 'Future Landscapes' in May. It is good to have the debate, but, of course, the problem is that the Sandford principle is missing from the current report, which is a mistake in my opinion. By failing to address one of the central tenets of the designated landscapes as they currently stand, the report is inadequate, and it has succeeded in annoying a large number of partners involved with the national parks, perhaps unnecessarily, and these are the exact partners whose collaboration is needed in moving forward in this debate. It has also generated concern among my constituents in Arfon, with people feeling that a great change was afoot, that Snowdonia may be about to change for ever, and that the uniqueness of the park was under threat. To allay these concerns, it is important that Plaid Cymru's amendments are passed today. We have to have clarity, detailed scrutiny, and a full consultation on the future of our parks and our designated landscapes. I would like to thank all the constituents who have contacted me to air their concerns. I would like to be able to go back to them and say that the Assembly has accepted Plaid's amendments, and that the Assembly recognises the need for a full and transparent debate if there is any intention to review the purpose of such an iconic place as Snowdonia national park. As well as extolling two statutory purposes, Snowdonia National Park has added a third purpose, namely fostering the economic and social well-being of its communities. This is a vital purpose, in my opinion. Snowdonia is an area steeped in local history and culture, and more than half of the population speaks Welsh. To close, therefore, a full consultation is needed nationally, but we also need a consultation with the local population and the relevant bodies about all the issues - the need to conserve and enhance, certainly, and yes, the Sandford principle, but also the need to foster the economic well-being of communities in these areas.
Welsh: Mi ydw i yn ddigon ffodus i gael cynrychioli rhan o Barc Cenedlaethol Eryri - ardal nodedig o ran tirwedd, byd natur, a'i ffordd o fyw unigryw. Yn ogystal a bod yn un o lefydd prydferthaf y byd, mae Eryri hefyd yn gartref i 26,000 o bobl, llawer ohonyn nhw'n gweithio yn y parc o dydd i ddydd. Yn y blynyddoedd diweddar, fe welwyd twf aruthrol mewn un rhan o'r economi yn yr ardal, sef twristiaeth awyr agored. Yn ôl un astudiaeth, fe gyfrannodd y sector yma dros £480 miliwn i economi Cymru. O safbwynt Eryri, mae tyfu'r sector gweithgareddau awyr agored yn un o gonglfeini strategaeth economaidd Gwynedd, wrth iddo gael ei gydnabod fel un o nifer o sectorau twf yn yr ardal ac mae'r pwyslais ar hyrwyddo cyfleon busnes i bobl ifanc lleol. Mae o'n weithgaredd economaidd sy'n gwbl gydnaws â dau ddiben statudol parc cenedlaethol sef, fel rydym ni wedi clywed, gwarchod a gwella harddwch naturiol, bywyd gwyllt a threftadaeth ddiwylliannol yr ardaloedd, a hyrwyddo cyfleoedd i'r cyhoedd ddeall a mwynhau nodweddion arbennig eu hardaloedd. Wedyn, fel rydym ni wedi clywed, os oes yna wrthdaro rhwng y ddau ddiben statudol hyn, mae'n rhaid i'r awdurdod yn y parc cenedlaethol droi at egwyddor Sandford. Dyna ydy'r sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd. Yn amlwg, mae'r egwyddor Sandford yma yn hollbwysig i lawer o bobl - yn sicr yn bwysig i lawer sydd wedi cysylltu â mi dros y dyddiau diwethaf. Ac mae yna lawer mewn penbleth am na chyfeiriwyd at yr egwyddor hon yn yr adroddiad sydd dan sylw heddiw. Mae'n gwbl briodol i adolygu pwrpas yr ardaloedd dynodedig, wrth gwrs, ac fe wnaed hynny dan arweiniad yr Athro Terry Marsden, ac yna fe gyhoeddwyd 'Tirweddau'r Dyfodol' ym mis Mai. Mae'n dda cael y drafodaeth, ond, wrth gwrs, y broblem ydy bod yr egwyddor Sandford ar goll o'r adroddiad presennol, sydd yn gam gwag yn fy marn i. Drwy beidio â sôn am un o egwyddorion canolog presennol y tirweddau dynodedig, mae'r adroddiad yn annigonol, ac fe lwyddwyd i godi gwrychyn nifer fawr o bartneriaid sy'n ymwneud â'r parciau cenedlaethol heb fod eisiau efallai, a'r rhain ydy'r union bartneriaid y mae angen eu cydweithrediad wrth symud ymlaen yn y drafodaeth yma. Fe lwyddwyd hefyd i greu pryder ymhlith fy etholwyr i yn Arfon yn sicr. Mae pobl yn teimlo bod yna rywbeth mawr ar fin newid, fod Eryri am newid am byth, fod natur unigryw'r parc dan fygythiad. Er mwyn tawelu'r pryderon yma, mae'n bwysig bod gwelliannau Plaid Cymru yn cael eu pasio heddiw. Mae'n rhaid cael eglurder, craffu manwl, ac ymgynghori llawn, ar ddyfodol ein parciau a'n tirweddau dynodedig. Buaswn i'n licio diolch i'r holl etholwyr sydd wedi cysylltu â mi i wyntyllu eu pryderon. Buaswn i'n licio medru mynd yn ôl atyn nhw i ddweud fod y Cynulliad wedi derbyn gwelliannau Plaid Cymru, fod y Cynulliad yn cydnabod yr angen am drafodaeth dryloyw a llawn os oes unrhyw fwriad i newid pwrpas mannau mor eiconaidd â pharc cenedlaethol Eryri. Yn ogystal ag arddel y ddau ddiben statudol, mae Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri wedi ychwanegu trydydd diben, sef meithrin lles economaidd a chymdeithasol ei chymunedau. Diben hollbwysig yn fy marn i. Mae Eryri yn ardal llawn diwylliant a hanes lleol, ac mae mwy na hanner ei phoblogaeth yn siarad Cymraeg. I gloi, felly, mae angen ymgynghoriad lawn yn genedlaethol, ond hefyd mae angen ymgynghoriad efo'r boblogaeth leol a'r cyrff priodol am yr holl faterion perthnasol - yr angen i warchod a gwella, ie, yn sicr, yr egwyddor Sandford, ie, yn sicr, ond hefyd yr angen i feithrin lles economaidd ei chymunedau yn yr ardaloedd dan sylw.