THE MS for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders, has criticised the Welsh Government for “continuing to place long-term arrangements for environmental governance on the backburner”, raising concerns about the real terms funding cut to be experienced by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

The Welsh Conservative shadow minister for climate change was contributing to the Senedd debate on the Welsh Government’s draft budget on Tuesday.

Her argument was bolstered by the fact that, while Natural England is receiving a 47 per cent increase in UK Government funding, data provided by Wales Environment Link via their budgetary consultation submission shows that NRW’s funding has decreased by 35 per cent between 2013 and 2020.

A prolific campaigner for marine protections and habitat restoration, Mrs Finch-Saunders also used the speech to call for clarity around the expenditure on marine conservation efforts and fisheries.

Concerns were also raised about an unspecified amount that will go towards establishing a publicly owned energy company.

Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “In meetings of the Climate Change Committee, stakeholders have rightly raised concerns about an apparent lack of capacity for robust monitoring programmes and management of protected sites, particularly given that prosecutions in Wales for environmental offences have reduced around 61 per cent between 2013 and 2020.

“We are squandering an opportunity for Wales to be a world leader in green protections.

“According to my own analysis, NRW is now set to receive a real terms cut in funding, remaining at £69.7million for 2022-23.

“This is in spite of repeated concerns raised by the agency over their resource and manpower to respond to flooding events.

“To protect our green spaces, it is vital that the Welsh Government reviews this situation and looks to use whatever resource available to introduce a framework for a long-term Independent Office for Environment Protection.

“In recognising that an unspecified amount will go towards establishing a publicly owned energy company, given the issues encountered by the Bristol energy company, whereby the failing asset was sold for £14m, far less than the £36.5m invested by Bristol City Council.

“I feel that this money would be better spent establishing a microgrid trial in North Wales.

“Decision-makers in Cardiff Bay have long acknowledged that Wales continues to experience a grid capacity crisis which is causing an unnecessary trip in the system, preventing meaningful and long-term progress in the nation’s green industrial revolution.

“It is time that we use our resource wisely to generate climate actions rather than ego-boosting rhetoric.”