The Welsh environmental regulator, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), monitors marine, forest and waste industries, advises on environmental issues, provides consultancy on planning applications, and responds to environmental incidents within Wales. As a Welsh government sponsored body, it also manages woodlands, reserves and flood defences that cover about 7% of Wales’ territory while employing close to 2,000 staff. Pursuing sustainable management of natural resources is its official purpose.
What does Natural Resources Wales regulate?
Major industry and management of water resources are all part of NRW’s remit. It also regulates the waste industry, including the storage, treatment and disposal of waste. As part of this, NRW grants waste permits, supports compliance, enforces packaging regulations, and supervises UK trading schemes such as packaging recovery notes (PRN).
How is Natural Resources Wales funded?
Roughly half of NRW’s budget is funded by the Welsh Government in the form of a grant. Various charges and commercial income from sources such as visitor centres cover most of the rest.
How is NRW run?
NRW has a chief executive and executive team that manage its work. Each financial year the board receives objectives that are set out by the Welsh Government in the form of an annual Remit Letter. It could therefore be loosely described as a quango, in that it operates at arms-length from government.
