Environment (Wales) Act 2016

11 Area statements E+W

(1) NRW must prepare and publish statements (“area statements”) for the areas of Wales that it considers appropriate for the purpose of facilitating the implementation of the national natural resources policy.

(2) NRW may use the area statements for any other purpose in the exercise of its functions.

(3) Each area statement must—

(a) explain why a statement has been prepared for the area, by reference to—

(i) the natural resources in the area,

(ii) the benefits which the natural resources provide, and

(iii) the priorities, risks and opportunities for the sustainable management of natural resources which need to be addressed;

(b) explain how the principles of sustainable management of natural resources have been applied in preparing the statement;

(c) state how NRW proposes to address the priorities, risks and opportunities, and how it proposes to apply the principles of sustainable management of natural resources in doing so;

(d) specify the public bodies which NRW considers may assist in addressing the priorities, risks and opportunities.

(4) NRW must ensure that every part of Wales is included in at least one of the areas for which it prepares an area statement.

(5) NRW must—

(a) take all reasonable steps to implement an area statement, and

(b) encourage others to take such steps.

(6) NRW must keep area statements under review and it may revise them at any time.

(7) Before publishing an area statement, NRW must consider whether—

(a) another plan, strategy or similar document should be incorporated into the area statement, or

(b) the area statement should be incorporated into another plan, strategy or similar document.