Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Senedd for Bangor, Conwy and Môn, wrote to the First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, following the creation of a mural by Greenpeace on Sychnant Pass, which had been severely damaged by wildfires. In her letter, the Member expressed her deep concerns about the impact it could have on the environment and wildlife, as well as calling for demonstrations like this to be rightly recognised as environmental vandalism.
Llyr Gruffydd MS, the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, responded to the letter, stating:
“Natural Resources Wales undertook a site inspection to assess whether the creation of the mural had caused any damage to the features of the Site of Special Scientific Interest on Sychnant Pass. The assessment concluded that the mural had been created on ground already severely affected by the wildfire, where the SSSI heathland features had been burnt away. There is no evidence that the mural had caused damage to the SSSI heathland, and NRW has advised that any remaining paint is unlikely to affect the long-term regeneration of the habitat.
“While NRW has concluded that no damage was caused to the SSSI in this instance, I believe it is important that everyone respects the countryside and acts responsibly when visiting it. This is especially important in areas recovering from environmental damage, where recovery can take many years and where additional disturbance should be avoided. I would also encourage sensitivity towards and respect for those households, businesses and communities impacted most directly by recent wildfires.”
Janet commented:
“While I welcome the findings that there was no lasting environmental damage caused by the mural, a precedent must be set that actions like this must be classed as environmental vandalism and treated accordingly. We have a duty to protect our green spaces, mountains and waterways.
“Also, the impact on the families who had to leave their homes should have been taken into consideration. Naturally, seeing an organisation such as Greenpeace using the wildfire to send a political message will have caused distress. This was clearly demonstrated when two residents felt strongly enough to remove as much of the paint as possible.
“We cannot allow an event like this to happen again.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o'r Senedd dros Fangor Conwy Môn, wedi ysgrifennu at y Prif Weinidog, Rhun ap Iorwerth, ar ôl i Greenpeace greu murlun ar Fwlch Sychnant, a gafodd ei ddifrodi'n ddifrifol gan danau gwyllt. Yn ei llythyr, mynegodd yr Aelod ei phryderon mawr am yr effaith y gallai’r murlun ei chael ar yr amgylchedd ac ar fywyd gwyllt, gan alw hefyd am i brotestiadau fel hyn gael eu galw’n haeddiannol yn fandaliaeth amgylcheddol.
Ymatebodd Llyr Gruffydd AS, Gweinidog y Cabinet dros Wydnwch Gwledig a Chynaliadwyedd, i'r llythyr, gan ddweud:
"Cynhaliodd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru archwiliad safle i asesu a oedd creu'r murlun wedi achosi unrhyw ddifrod i nodweddion y Safle o Ddiddordeb Gwyddonol Arbennig ar Fwlch Sychnant. Daeth yr asesiad i'r casgliad bod y murlun wedi'i greu ar dir a oedd eisoes wedi'i effeithio'n ddifrifol gan y tanau gwyllt, lle’r oedd nodweddion rhostiroedd SoDdGA wedi'u llosgi. Nid oes unrhyw dystiolaeth bod y murlun wedi achosi difrod i'r rhostir SoDdGA ac mae CNC wedi cynghori bod unrhyw baent sy'n weddill yn annhebygol o effeithio ar adfywiad hirdymor y cynefin.
"Er bod CNC wedi dod i'r casgliad nad oedd unrhyw ddifrod wedi'i achosi i'r SoDdGA yn yr achos hwn, rwy'n credu ei bod hi’n bwysig bod pawb yn parchu cefn gwlad ac yn gweithredu'n gyfrifol wrth ymweld ag ef. Mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig mewn ardaloedd sy'n dod dros ddifrod amgylcheddol, lle gall y gwaith adfer gymryd blynyddoedd lawer a lle dylid osgoi unrhyw darfu ychwanegol. Byddwn hefyd yn annog sensitifrwydd a pharch tuag at yr aelwydydd, y busnesau a’r cymunedau hynny yr effeithir arnyn nhw’n fwyaf uniongyrchol gan y tanau gwyllt diweddar."
Meddai Janet:
"Er fy mod yn croesawu'r canfyddiadau nad oedd unrhyw ddifrod amgylcheddol parhaol wedi’i achosi gan y murlun, rhaid gosod cynsail a dweud bod gweithredoedd fel hyn yn cael eu dosbarthu fel fandaliaeth amgylcheddol a'u trin
yn unol â hynny. Mae gennym ni ddyletswydd i amddiffyn ein mannau gwyrdd, ein mynyddoedd a’n dyfrffyrdd.
"Hefyd, dylai'r effaith ar y teuluoedd y bu’n rhaid iddyn nhw adael eu cartrefi fod wedi cael ei hystyried. Wrth gwrs, bydd gweld sefydliad fel Greenpeace yn defnyddio'r tanau gwyllt i anfon neges wleidyddol wedi achosi trallod. Gwelwyd hyn yn glir wrth i ddau breswylydd deimlo'n ddigon cryf i gael gwared ar gymaint o'r paent â phosibl.
"Ni allwn ganiatáu i weithred fel hon ddigwydd eto."
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
