martyn evans - sustainable severn forum 2015

Sustainable Severn Forum 2015

The role of Natural Resources Wales9 December 2015

Martyn EvansHead, Ecosystems Planning & Partnerships, Operations South

Renewable Wales 2015

The Role of Natural Resources Wales

• Regulator

• Advisor

• Land owner & manager

• Incident Management


Regulatory role (Marine)


Growing Challenges• Climate Change

• Energy Security & Affordability

• Biodiversity Loss

• Resource Efficiency

• Economic inequality

• Growing & increasing elderly population


Climate Change


• The Environment Bill requires Welsh Ministers to meet Climate Change targets.

• Renewable energy is crucial in achieving climate change targets.

A new approach to managing our Natural Resources


• Environment (Wales) Act

• Well Being and Future Generations (Wales) Act

• Planning (Wales) Act

• Wales National Marine Plan

• Power for Purpose: Towards a lasting Devolution Settlement for Wales

Sustainable Natural Resource Management principles

PPC Hydraulic Fracturing (PG)

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Energy Wales Statement


• Stable, clear policy and regulatory framework to de-risk and facilitate energy investment.

• Update to fully reflect Welsh ambitions and the entirety of the energy system

• Priority areas are marine energy (including demonstration zones and tidal range), grid, fossil fuels, onshore wind.

• Promoting joined up delivery and action, including potential new consenting powers.

Working with Industry


• Working with the Crown Estates toorganise a UK workshop on waveand tidal demonstration zones

Strategic sectoral planningOffshore wind – Rounds 1,2 and 3Wave and tidal stream demonstration zonesTidal Range projects

Strategic Planning & Assessment


Wales National Marine PlanSectoral PlanningStrategic Assessment (SEA, HRA)

Possible Tidal Range/lagoon sites

Severn Tidal Power - 5% UK electricity?

Severn Estuary conservation designations


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Strategic Planning

• Helps ensure the right development /activity in the right place.

• Minimises consenting risk for developers.

• Strategic sectoral planning for the marine environment has been underway for some time, e.g. for oil and gas; offshore renewables.

• Wales’ first National Marine Plan is now under development, which will integrate across sectors, and take into account interactions between different uses for the first time.

Evidence needsThe right evidence is crucial to:• Inform strategic plans and policies• Develop spatial policies (e.g. high/low risk areas)• Understand options for reducing or removing

adverse impactse.g. we have produced evidence layers on natural heritage

receptors for wave and tidal energy

Evidence is needed at a strategic and project levelHarbour porpoise distribution

In some areas there is limited evidence to inform consenting decisions –this is a significant challenge for the development of marine industries

In summaryRenewable Wales 2015

• Renewable energy is critical to moving towards a low carbon economy

• NRW has a key role to play• Spatial planning is key• Collaboration is no longer optional

Key issues

• Plan led or opportunity led? – policy & strategic leadership

• A strategic, spatial approach - how to achieve?• City Region Visions: environment as a key growth

component of sustainable economies• England/Wales policy integration• Competing demands for compensatory habitat • Evidence: • Integrating natural resources into multiple (competing)

objectives• Genuine collaboration needed across public, private

and third sectors to align vision, spend and effort


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“I take up my old pen again – the pen of all my old unforgettable efforts and sacred struggles. To myself – today – I need say no more. Large and full and high the future still opens. It is now that I may do the work of my life.”

(If all this appears to be in the too hard to do box, this may inspire you to soldier on). The playwright Henry James, in his 50’s, following a play of his that flopped. Conveys a sense of capitalising on proud past work, dealing with setbacks, but looking ahead with optimism and confidence to the future.

Thank you / Diolch.

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