Welsh environment body named

The Welsh assembly government has confirmed the name of the new body that will replace the Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales

The organisations will be known as Natural Resources Wales, or Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, environment minister John Griffiths has announced.

“This name communicates well the remit of the new body, covering all of the roles of the three current bodies,” said Griffiths.

He also said the new body will provide a more streamlined way of working than currently exists with the three separate organisations.

Ten non-executive directors of the new body have been selected, including: Dr Mike Brooker, former chief executive at Welsh Water; Dr Madeleine Havard, the current board member for Wales at the Environment Agency; Morgan Parry, the chair of the Countryside Council for Wales; and Nigel Reader, a board member with both Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation.

Natural Resources Wales will begin operations in April 2013.