Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Last year, Senedd Members joined with communities across north-west Wales to celebrate the inscription of tirwedd llechi gogledd-orllewin Cymru, the slate landscape of north-west Wales, on the UNESCO world heritage site list. The Welsh Government successfully delivered our programme for government commitment to support the inscription of the slate landscape world heritage site. It was a moment of celebration that marked the culmination of many years of hard work by a partnership led by Gwynedd Council, with support from Snowdonia National Park Authority and Welsh Government.

That partnership is notable for its range. It includes Cadw, the National Trust, as well as two heritage bodies sponsored by Welsh Government—that's Amgueddfa Cymru and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments—alongside representatives from industry and the private sector, including quarry owners, tourism operators and, of course, local community groups.

Inscription is an achievement that marks the start of a new challenge: to manage and care for the world heritage site on behalf of future generations. So, one year on is a good time to reflect on what has been achieved and what world heritage means for Wales. 

It's 50 years since UNESCO established the world heritage site convention, which recognises that some heritage has such importance that it transcends national boundaries to speak to all humanity. These buildings, monuments and landscapes say something fundamental about us, about where we come from and the world that we inhabit. The convention has been ratified by over 190 nations, includes more than 1,000 sites and is recognised by millions of people. The protection, conservation and preservation of our world heritage sites, and their transmission to future generations, is an important duty for society today.

We're proud to have responsibility for four world heritage sites in Wales, with two in the north-west: the slate landscape and the castles of Edward I. Three of those sites recognise our pivotal role in the industrial revolution, a time when our country experienced an unprecedented period of transformation and our iron, steel and slate, as well as mining and engineering expertise, contributed to the building of cities and towns across the globe.