A project to ‘rewild’ a massive area of north Ceredigion and the Dyfi Valley, including parts of the sea in Cardigan Bay, has been slammed as “cultural imperialism”.

The project, called Summit to Sea, aims to create one continuous, nature-rich area “on a scale never before seen in Britain”, stretching from mid Wales’ highest area, the Pumlumon massif, to the Dyfi estuary on the west coast and out into Cardigan Bay.

Within five years it will comprise at least 10,000 hectares of land and 28,400 hectares of sea, with £3.4m in funding already secured by Rewilding Britain – the group behind the project.

Organisers say that wildlife is under great pressure in parts of Wales, with 14 species at risk of disappearing altogether, and that the rewilding project will not only safeguard wildlife but also help “overcome economic difficulties” in the area.

Dyfi Valley councillor Elwyn Vaughan, however, has voiced concerns over the project, with prominent farming figures also expressing reservations.

“There are genuine concerns by a number of people about the project, which has received £3.4m recently, and there is severe danger it will be seen as a further example of urban values being forced on a rural Welsh area without considering the people, traditions, language and culture,” Cllr Vaughan said.

“Environmental sustainability cannot be divorced from the social and linguistic sustainability of the area, and therefore it is imperative that the project leaders place those values at the heart of the project.”

A spokesperson for Rewilding Britain said that it was aware of Cllr Vaughan’s concerns, and a meeting between the project leaders and Cllr Vaughan is set to be arranged.

“Over the next few weeks all 11 different partner organisations involved in the project will be having face-to-face conversations in the project area,” the spokesperson added.

“This builds on work to engage with people in and around the project area over recent months.

“Bringing local expertise together with support from further afield is the key to creating solutions that work for mid Wales.”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday