The Welsh Parliament’s Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee has raised concerns over the ability of Natural Resources Wales to do its job effectively.
NRW is the largest Welsh Government-sponsored body and is responsible for managing and protecting Wales’ natural resources and environment. The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee published its annual report on NRW this week, questioning the environmental watchdog’s ability to monitor and enforce key regulations.
The Senedd committee believes that years of under-investment means NRW is now stretched “too thin” which could leave Wales “vulnerable to environmental damage”.
The committee says it is “gravely concerned” at NRW’s current plan to reduce the number of “low category pollution incidents” it responds to.
In response to the report, Ceri Davies, Interim Chief Executive at Natural Resources Wales, said:
“We take our responsibilities for protecting the environment very seriously.
“The last year has been a significant period of change and challenge for our organisation, as we live within the resources available to us.”
