Managing Wales’ Natural Managing Wales’ Natural ResourcesResources

Andy FraserAndy FraserHead of Natural Resource ManagementHead of Natural Resource Management

Department for Natural ResourcesDepartment for Natural Resources

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• Evidence shows that the capacity of our natural resources to continue to provide the services on which we depend is diminishing

Case for change

• Interventions and actions needed to enable Wales to grow sustainably, increase resilience and manage natural resources efficiently

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• Fresh legal framework to Fresh legal framework to manage Wales’ manage Wales’ natural resources in a natural resources in a joined-up and sustainable way joined-up and sustainable way and support achievement of and support achievement of Well-being GoalsWell-being Goals

• Strong links to the WFG Act and Strong links to the WFG Act and Planning Bill processes, Planning Bill processes, principles and aimsprinciples and aims

• Bringing together or replacing Bringing together or replacing existing processes and existing processes and providing better evidence and providing better evidence and greater certaintygreater certainty

Our commitments

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Well-being ofFuture

Generations(Wales) Act

Environment (Wales) Bill

Planning (Wales) Bill

Environment (Wales) Bill

• A modern approach to managing our A modern approach to managing our natural resources in a proactive and joined-natural resources in a proactive and joined-up wayup way in a way that in a way that::

• is is compatible with and supports the compatible with and supports the principles of SD principles of SD for natural resource for natural resource planning and management (and planning and management (and specifically the requirements of the specifically the requirements of the WFG Act)WFG Act)

• Enshrines the 12 principles of the UN Enshrines the 12 principles of the UN CBDCBD

• Establish the legislative framework necessary Establish the legislative framework necessary to tackle to tackle climate changeclimate change

• By going By going “beyond protection”, help to “beyond protection”, help to secure Wales’ long-term well-being, secure Wales’ long-term well-being, so that so that it benefits from a prosperous economy, a it benefits from a prosperous economy, a healthy and resilient environment and healthy and resilient environment and vibrant, cohesive communitiesvibrant, cohesive communities

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• Current environmental legislation framework is Current environmental legislation framework is reactive, issue-specific and can reactive, issue-specific and can be inefficientbe inefficient..

• Creates a barrier to effective planning Creates a barrier to effective planning and limits ability to manage Wales’ and limits ability to manage Wales’ natural resources in a sustainable way.natural resources in a sustainable way.

• Creation of NRW in 2013 major step forwardCreation of NRW in 2013 major step forward

• But But NRW remains bound by weaknesses in the existing legislative frameworkNRW remains bound by weaknesses in the existing legislative framework..

• Bill has been Bill has been designed to address these weaknesses by enabling integrated designed to address these weaknesses by enabling integrated delivery, simplification and efficiencydelivery, simplification and efficiency..

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• Introduces a statutory framework for the Introduces a statutory framework for the Sustainable Management of Sustainable Management of Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

• Key aim of Part 1 of the Bill:Key aim of Part 1 of the Bill:• ““to manage our natural resources in a way and at a rate that can to manage our natural resources in a way and at a rate that can

maintain and enhance the resilience of our ecosystems whilst maintain and enhance the resilience of our ecosystems whilst meeting the needs or present generations without compromising meeting the needs or present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

• Includes definitions of Includes definitions of “natural resources”“natural resources” and and “sustainable “sustainable management of natural resources”management of natural resources”

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• Natural Resources:Natural Resources:• Includes (but is not limited to) –Includes (but is not limited to) –

• Animals, plants and other organisms;Animals, plants and other organisms;• Air, water and soil;Air, water and soil;• Minerals;Minerals;• Geological features and processes;Geological features and processes;• physiographical features;physiographical features;• Climatic features and processesClimatic features and processes

• Sustainable Management of Natural Resources:Sustainable Management of Natural Resources:• Using natural resources in a way and at a rate that…maintains Using natural resources in a way and at a rate that…maintains

and enhances the resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they and enhances the resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they provide and, in doing so, meet the needs of present generations provide and, in doing so, meet the needs of present generations of people without compromising the ability of future generations of people without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.to meet their needs.

Definitions

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State of Natural

Resources Report

(SoNaRR)

State of Natural

Resources Report

(SoNaRR)

Area Statements

National Natural

Resource Policy

(NNRP)

National Natural

Resource Policy

(NNRP)

The priorities identified in the National Policy will be delivered at a local level through Area Statements produced by NRW.

The State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR), produced by NRW, will report on the status of Wales’ natural resources and track the progress being made towards achieving the sustainable management of natural resources. It will also serve as an essential evidence base to underpin the NNRP.

The National Natural Resource Policy will set out the priorities for the sustainable management of natural resources at a national level. It will outline how the sustainable management of Wales’ natural resources will provide benefits to society and the economy as well as the environment, supporting the goals outlined in the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act.

Sustainable management of natural resources

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State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR)State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR)

• NRW to lead on reporting on the status of Wales’ natural NRW to lead on reporting on the status of Wales’ natural resourcesresources

• To be published in line with Assembly electionsTo be published in line with Assembly elections

• NRW can ask public bodies to provide information to help it NRW can ask public bodies to provide information to help it compile the reportcompile the report

• To be effective, this evidence base must inform other key To be effective, this evidence base must inform other key documents, such as NNRP and Area Statementsdocuments, such as NNRP and Area Statements

Environment (Wales) Bill

Data and information to inform the Future Trends ReportData and information to inform the Future Trends Report

Content of SoNaRR will communicate the contribution the sustainable Content of SoNaRR will communicate the contribution the sustainable management of natural resources will make to delivering the Well-management of natural resources will make to delivering the Well-being goalsbeing goals..

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National Natural Resources Policy (NNRP) National Natural Resources Policy (NNRP)

•Drawing on SoNaRR, Welsh Ministers will set a clear policy for Drawing on SoNaRR, Welsh Ministers will set a clear policy for the sustainable management of natural resourcesthe sustainable management of natural resources

•To include opportunities, challenges and priorities to optimise To include opportunities, challenges and priorities to optimise national social, economic and environmental benefitsnational social, economic and environmental benefits

•NNRP to be reviewed every Government termNNRP to be reviewed every Government term

Environment (Wales) Bill

Well-being goals and Welsh Ministers Well-being objectives will inform Well-being goals and Welsh Ministers Well-being objectives will inform development of the NNRP and will link across to National Development development of the NNRP and will link across to National Development FrameworkFramework

May also be informed by other evidence, such as the Future Trends Report May also be informed by other evidence, such as the Future Trends Report

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Area Statements Area Statements

•NRW must publish NRW must publish Area Statements to implement the Area Statements to implement the priorities of NNRP at a local levelpriorities of NNRP at a local level

•Specify the priorities and opportunities for the sustainable Specify the priorities and opportunities for the sustainable management of natural resources within an area, and specify management of natural resources within an area, and specify how NRW proposes to address themhow NRW proposes to address them

•Includes direction making, information sharing and mutual Includes direction making, information sharing and mutual assistance provisionsassistance provisions

Environment (Wales) Bill

Contribute to and inform delivery of the Well-being objectives and Contribute to and inform delivery of the Well-being objectives and Well-being plans.Well-being plans.

This will enable the management of natural resources to feed into This will enable the management of natural resources to feed into the preparation of Local Development Plans. the preparation of Local Development Plans.

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Environment Bill: other Part 1 provisionsEnvironment Bill: other Part 1 provisions•Biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems dutyBiodiversity and resilience of ecosystems duty

• Refocuses s40 of NERC Act 2006 Refocuses s40 of NERC Act 2006 for public authorities for public authorities who carry out functions in Wales, so the requirements are who carry out functions in Wales, so the requirements are in line with principles of SMNRin line with principles of SMNR

• Sharpens requirement on public authorities:Sharpens requirement on public authorities:• s40: “have regard”s40: “have regard”• Env Bill: “Env Bill: “must seek to maintain and enhancemust seek to maintain and enhance””• And in doing so promote ecosystem resilienceAnd in doing so promote ecosystem resilience

• Retains s42 (biodiversity lists) requirementsRetains s42 (biodiversity lists) requirements

• Public authorities must publish a compliance report Public authorities must publish a compliance report (before end of 2019 and every third year thereafter)(before end of 2019 and every third year thereafter)

Environment (Wales) Bill

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• Statutory climate change target for 2050:Statutory climate change target for 2050:• At least an 80% reduction in emissions against 1990 levelsAt least an 80% reduction in emissions against 1990 levels

• Framework for setting:Framework for setting:

• Interim targetsInterim targets

• Carbon BudgetsCarbon Budgets

Accelerate progress in tackling causes and consequences of climate Accelerate progress in tackling causes and consequences of climate change, contributing to achievement of Well-being Goals.change, contributing to achievement of Well-being Goals.

Will also help to inform priorities in the National Development Will also help to inform priorities in the National Development Framework, Strategic Development and Local Development Plans.Framework, Strategic Development and Local Development Plans.

Environment (Wales) BillEnvironment (Wales) Billwww.wales.gov.uk/naturalresourcemanagementwww.wales.gov.uk/naturalresourcemanagement