Member of the Senedd for Sir Fynwy Torfaen, Peter Fox, has called for a review of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) funding following the publication of its 2025/26 Annual Report.
In his letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd MS, Mr Fox highlighted longstanding concerns about funding pressures within NRW and questioned whether the organisation has the resources required to respond effectively to growing environmental challenges.
The MS referenced the severe flooding experienced in Monmouth last winter and the recent wave of wildfires across Wales that a review was needed.
Whilst noting that some progress has been made by NRW on its financial position and flood risk management since a debate in the previous Senedd on its performance for 2024/25, Mr Fox remained concerned that themes on a ‘lack of funding’ appear to remain, and the cycle of ongoing monitoring and bureaucracy is continuing.
Mr Fox has asked the Welsh Government to confirm whether NRW’s funding is being reviewed to ensure it is resourced properly to deal with flooding, wildfires and other environmental incidents.
Local MS for Sir Fynwy Torfaen, Peter Fox, has said:
“I was pleased to see that some progress on finances have been made by NRW, but it is clear from the report that funding remains the primary issue.
“We have seen appalling flooding, wildfires and other events here in Torfaen and Monmouthshire, and across Wales, that have left communities reeling, and rightly asking if NRW are properly equipped and funded to tackle these events.
“From the report, it is clear they are still not, with it clear the scale of challenges faced continues to exceed their resources.
“The Welsh Government must ensure NRW are properly funded, and I hope the Cabinet Minister, as the previous Chairman of the Climate Change Committee, that has scrutinised the organisation, will ensure this happens.”
