The Cambrian Mountain Initiative (CMI)

The Cambrian Mountain Initiative (CMI) was launched in 2007/08 as a high-profile project supporting sustainable, community-led development across the six zones of the Cambrian Mountains. Its first phase focused on helping each zone create plans and structures aligned with Welsh Government policy. The project was led by HRH The Prince of Wales as President and chaired by the Sustainable Futures Commissioner for Wales, who advised the Welsh Government on sustainable development. Key partners included the county councils covering the region and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which also provided staff support.

Some projects were developed across the entire Cambrian Mountains. For example, a regional food brand was created, using a logo designed and licensed to the project by HRH The Prince of Wales. Other initiatives were tailored to individual zones. In the South West zone, for instance—covering 15 villages and settlements around Brechfa Forest and Llanllwni Mountain—residents were supported to produce their own community-led action plan and tourism strategy. The CMI provided funding, templates, and staff support (from NRW or consultants appointed by NRW) to chair public meetings. However, the central principle was that communities themselves would design their own plans. These documents not only captured what mattered most to local residents but also set out practical projects that communities could pursue directly. By identifying “ready-to-go” actions, the plans enabled communities to apply for grant funding with evidence of consultation, alignment with government policy, and, where relevant, agreement from NRW forest managers. By the end of its first phase, each zone had both an action plan and a tourism strategy containing fully developed project proposals. This approach made it possible to respond quickly to funding opportunities. For example, when heritage funding was announced, information from the plans could be transferred directly into grant applications. This process later secured funding for projects supporting walkers, riders, and cyclists in enjoying Brechfa Forest and Llanllwni Mountain.

The Cambrian Mountain Initiative was an excellent fit for our community. Experts identify ancient forest based communities as having a different culture to agricultural based communities a consequence of centuries of forest laws which prohibited people from taking more than they needed for their own use but encouraged working together for mutual benefit. Community organisations are not only continuing to maintain and implement the action plan and tourism strategies, but have also supported other Welsh and Irish communities in following our example.

Menter Mynyddoedd Cambria (MMC)

Lansiwyd Menter Mynyddoedd Cambria (MMC) yn 2007/08 fel prosiect proffil uchel i gefnogi datblygu cynaliadwy dan arweiniad cymunedol ar draws y chwe ardal o Fynyddoedd Cambria. Canolbwyntiodd y cam cyntaf ar helpu pob ardal i greu cynlluniau a strwythurau yn unol â pholisïau Llywodraeth Cymru.

Arweiniwyd y prosiect gan Ei Uchelder Brenhinol Tywysog Cymru fel Llywydd, gyda’r Comisiynydd Dyfodol Cynaliadwy i Gymru yn cadeirio. Cynghorodd y Comisiynydd Lywodraeth Cymru ar ddatblygu cynaliadwy. Ymhlith y partneriaid allweddol roedd cynghorau sir sy’n cwmpasu’r rhanbarth a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru (CNC), a ddarparodd staff hefyd.

Datblygwyd rhai prosiectau ar draws holl Fynyddoedd Cambria. Er enghraifft, crëwyd brand bwyd rhanbarthol gan ddefnyddio logo a gynlluniwyd a thrwyddedwyd i’r prosiect gan Ei Uchelder Brenhinol Tywysog Cymru. Fodd bynnag, addaswyd mentrau eraill ar gyfer ardaloedd unigol. Yn yr ardal De Orllewin, er enghraifft—sy’n cwmpasu 15 pentref a setliad o amgylch Coedwig Brechfa a Mynydd Llanllwni—cafodd trigolion eu cefnogi i gynhyrchu eu cynllun gweithredu cymunedol a strategaeth dwristiaeth eu hunain.

Darparodd y MMC gyllid, templedi, a chefnogaeth staff (gan CNC neu ymgynghorwyr a benodwyd gan CNC) i gadeirio cyfarfodydd cyhoeddus. Fodd bynnag, yr egwyddor ganolog oedd bod y cymunedau eu hunain yn llunio’r cynlluniau. Nid yn unig y cofnododd y dogfennau hyn yr hyn oedd bwysicaf i’r trigolion lleol, ond hefyd nodi prosiectau ymarferol y gallai’r cymunedau eu cyflawni’n uniongyrchol. Trwy nodi gweithredoedd “yn barod i’w cyflawni”, gallai’r cynlluniau alluogi cymunedau i wneud cais am gyllid grant gyda thystiolaeth o ymgynghoriad, cydymffurfio â pholisïau’r llywodraeth, ac, os oedd yn berthnasol, cytundeb gan reolwyr coedwig CNC.

Erbyn diwedd y cam cyntaf, roedd gan bob ardal gynllun gweithredu a strategaeth dwristiaeth yn cynnwys cynigion prosiect wedi’u datblygu’n llawn. Gwnaeth y dull hwn hi’n bosibl ymateb yn gyflym i gyfleoedd cyllido. Er enghraifft, pan gyhoeddwyd cyllid treftadaeth, gellid trosglwyddo gwybodaeth o’r cynlluniau’n uniongyrchol i geisiadau grant. Sicrhaodd y broses hon gyllid yn ddiweddarach ar gyfer prosiectau i gefnogi cerddwyr, marchogion a beicwyr i fwynhau Coedwig Brechfa a Mynydd Llanllwni.

Roedd Menter Mynyddoedd Cambria yn addas iawn i’n cymuned. Mae arbenigwyr yn nodi bod gan gymunedau sy’n seiliedig ar goedwigoedd hynafol ddiwylliant gwahanol i gymunedau amaethyddol, o ganlyniad i ganrifoedd o gyfreithiau coedwigoedd a waharddai bobl rhag cymryd mwy nag oedd ei angen arnynt eu hunain ond a annogai weithio gyda’i gilydd er lles pawb. Nid yn unig mae sefydliadau cymunedol yn parhau i gynnal a gweithredu’r cynllun gweithredu a’r strategaethau twristiaeth, ond maent hefyd wedi cefnogi cymunedau Cymreig ac Gwyddelig eraill i ddilyn ein hesiampl.