Last edited 20 Mar 2019

Natural Resources Wales

1 Introduction
2 Regulatory functions
3 Priorities of Natural Resources Wales
4 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
5 External references

[edit] Introduction

Natural Resources Wales has been operating since April 2013 when it was formed by the merger of the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency Wales, the Forestry Commission Wales and other roles that were previously undertaken by the Welsh government. The purpose of the body is to ensure the appropriate management and use of Welsh natural resources.

[edit] Regulatory functions

Natural Resources Wales act as regulatory authority for a variety of environmental legislation and activities including:

Marine licensing.
European protected species licensing.
Tree-felling licensing.
Waste industry.
Water discharge.
Water resources.
Commercial fisheries.
The Countryside Rights of Way Act.

[edit] Priorities of Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales has produced a Corporate Plan for 2014 to 2017 which sets out the aims of the organisation. Its main focus is developing an integrated method for the 'ecosystem approach'. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the ecosystem approach ‘…is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.’

The Natural Resources Wales business plan for 2014-15 sets out its priorities for delivery in terms of five slightly peculiar ‘Good’ statements:

‘... our desire for Wales to be a place where our air, land and water are managed sustainably by using Good Knowledge to achieve a Good Environment that is Good for People and is Good for Business. We will deliver this through being a Good Organisation.’