B3 Understanding the Levels

There are lots of things we don’t know or don’t fully understand about how the Levels landscape functions. This project will seek to answer some of those questions by developing relationships with local universities and colleges and encouraging research on the Levels through a bursary scheme for students.

The bursary scheme will be targeted at Masters students, but we will also support undergraduates through facilitating research and helping with T&S. The scheme will be administered by the Living Levels Natural Heritage Officer, supported by the Finance and Admin Officer. Applications from students will be evaluated against a set of criteria by a panel drawn from partner organisations and in discussion with university staff.

In addition, we will continue to collaborate with the LivingEarth project, led by Aberystwyth University, to investigate the potential for satellite mapping of the Levels for future modelling.

New opportunities for citizen science and volunteering will be generated through collaboration with university research projects.

Related projects

B1 Nature Recovery Action Plan

Developing a Gwent Levels Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP) that will underpin the wider programme and compliment the NRAPs being developed by Cardiff, Newport and Monmouthshire Local Nature Partnerships.

B2 Mapping the Levels

Using GIS mapping to create a detailed picture of the state of the Levels through commissioned surveys, citizen science, and the creation of a GIS master map.

B3 Understanding the Levels

Collaborating with universities to encourage research and development of innovative monitoring systems by offering a bursary scheme for Levels-based research.