The Department must make arrangements for obtaining such data about the natural environment as the Department considers appropriate for the purpose of monitoring whether the natural environment is, or particular aspects of it are, improving in accordance with the current environmental improvement plan.

The Department must lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly, and publish, a statement setting out the kinds of data to be obtained under sub-paragraph (1).

The first statement must be laid before the end of the 4 month period beginning with the day on which this paragraph comes into force.

The Department may revise the statement at any time (and sub-paragraph (2) applies to any revised statement).

The Department must publish any data obtained under sub-paragraph (1).