Our roles and responsibilities
We are Natural Resources Wales. We are the largest Welsh Government Sponsored Body, focussed on tackling the climate, nature and pollution emergencies.
The work that we do to protect and enhance Wales’ environment impacts everything that matters most – our communities, our wildlife and our future.
Our mission
Focussing our passion and collective action towards:
through the sustainable management of natural resources.
Our work
We currently:
- manage 7% of Wales’ land, including the Welsh Government Woodland Estate, flood defences and National Nature Reserves
- process over 7,000 incident reports every year
- advise as a member of all 15 Public Services Boards in Wales
- maintain 455 km of flood defence
- manage 56 National Nature Reserves (some in partnership with others) and 3 visitor centres.
Find out more in our performance report 2022-23.
Our purpose
Our core purpose is to pursue the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) as set out in the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.
We:
- are a Category One emergency responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, working with partners to keep people and wildlife safe from environmental incidents 24/7.
- are an advisor, consultee and regulator, working with industry to help them comply with regulations.
- are Wales’ largest land manager, supporting the timber, renewable energy and recreation sectors.
- are a designator of protected and special sites, such as SSSIs and AONBs.
- make decisions based on evidence, research and the expertise of our staff for the benefit of Wales’ communities and the environment.
Welsh Government priorities
The Welsh Government sets out what it wants us to achieve in the Natural Resources Wales: term of government remit letter 2022 to 2026.
The Welsh Government framework document for Natural Resources Wales is available on request.