WALES has a wealth of natural beauty: stunning landscapes, spectacular coastline and a teeming mass of wildlife that draws in the tourists. So are we doing what’s needed to protect and promote this most special of natural assets?

No, says Iolo Williams, one of the most high profile naturalists in the country, who will be one of the star turns in this year’s Penfro Book Festival in north Pembrokeshire next month.

“This UK government has been the worst government ever for wildlife, and the Welsh Assembly Government hasn’t been much better,” said Iolo.

“Since 1970 the UK has lost 44 million birds. This is down to a combination of things but by far the worse is the effect of modern intensive farming. This has been driven by outside agendas and without a shadow of a doubt is the most dangerous thing facing our wildlife.”

The naturalist also pulled no punches when it came to the work of Welsh government in promoting Wales as a wildlife tourist haven.

“I have been all over the world and while everyone knows about Ireland, Scotland and England no-one knows about Wales. Our promotion is very poor, we are just not very good at it – we’ve got a fantastic country but we have got a lot of catching up to do.”

There’s no denying the passion that Iolo, a BBC Springwatch presenter and author of many books, feels for the natural world.

One of his latest campaigns is the re-introduction of beavers – something that is being resisted in the UK by landowners even though 16 other European countries have reintroduced the river rodent.

“If I was a landowner I’d be embracing it, if you had beavers in your rivers there’s no need to be solely dependent on agriculture. You could build hides for tourists to see the beavers. The animals create wetlands and help alleviate flooding,” he said.

“We need to co-exist with the natural world. There are so many, many problems with modern farming – for example the run off into rivers with slurry is absolutely diabolical.”

While he is quick to criticise when we get it wrong, he’s also eager to praise good initiatives.

“Look at the companies that have set up taking people to see the dolphins in Cardigan Bay or ferrying tens of thousands of people to the Pembrokeshire islands to see the seabirds. The little buses that take walkers to the coast path – these are all fantastic things. Wales has led the world in having a coast path around the entire length of the country,” he said.

But he added: “While we might be impressed by and admire our wildlife most of it is in deep trouble. We need to get the balance right.”

Iolo will be kicking off the start of the four-day Penfro Festival at Rhosygilwen, near Cilgerran, on Thursday, September 7.

He will be talking about Wild Wales – his favourite wild places in the country.

So what his his overall favourite place?

“I have to say the Berwyn moors – they are near to where I grew up and I must have walked every square foot of them. Even though we have lost 45 per cent of heather moorland since World War II they are still a very wild and special place,” he said.

Iolo’s illustrated talk starts at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy online from the festival website at www.penfrobookfestival.org.uk