article: Dr Emyr Roberts said the EU's impact had been "largely positive" but there was the "potential to do even better". In a wide-ranging BBC Wales interview, he also defended his leadership of the environmental watchdog, which has faced a slew of difficult headlines. He is set to retire in October after almost five years. When it comes to environmental law, the EU has amassed more of it than anywhere else in the world. In many cases NRW's staff are responsible for monitoring whether Wales is meeting European standards. Those duties will change after Brexit as Welsh or British standards are developed, with potentially more responsibilities placed on the regulator, Dr Roberts predicted. He said the EU's strict environmental regulations had led to "significant improvements", highlighting bathing water quality and reductions in industrial emissions. "First of all it's very important that we do keep the current standards after Brexit - they have been successful," said Dr Roberts. "But going forward there is the potential to do even better - and in particular if we can bring together agricultural policy and environmental policy. "I think we can bring Welsh solutions to the table where in the past we've been quite restricted." He also said he thought the public in general "undervalue the environment and the benefits it can bring". Dr Roberts has been chief executive of NRW since its formation in 2013 when three former quangos - the Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales - were merged. It is the largest government-sponsored body in Wales, employing 1,900 staff across the country. The aim was to manage the environment in a more joined-up way while keeping a distance from the Welsh Government. However a year in, wildlife presenter and naturalist Iolo Williams s branded it a "disaster for conservation", with NRW's independence called into question over support for a motor racing track near Ebbw Vale. It became evident that merging different organisations was proving to be a huge challenge. Leaked staff surveys came under the spotlight and claims of morale problems were made. Most recently a row over a Â£39m timber deal that was not put out to tender prompted criticism from the Auditor General for Wales and an investigation by the assembly's public accounts committee. The timber industry complained of "an extremely worrying loss of forestry expertise" within the organisation, while fishing and river groups also attacked NRW, branding it "no longer fit for purpose". In May Dr Roberts announced he would retire, saying it was time to "pass the reins onto someone else". Asked about the regular criticism, Dr Roberts said he felt it reflected the passion people felt towards the Welsh environment. "The one thing I have learnt in this job is that you can't please everybody anytime," he said. "But many of those comments come from a particular angle - whether it's fishing or conservation. Our job is to join all that up and make the best solutions. "Sometimes you have to make compromises. We have to take things in the round, base it on evidence and
summary: Brexit presents an opportunity to improve the way Wales' environment is looked after, according to the outgoing head of Natural Resources Wales.