The Welsh environment minister has welcomed improvements in the principality's quality of life.

Responding to a new report published on Thursday, Carwyn Jones said devolution had benefited the Welsh countryside and waterways.

Research commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency and Forestry Commission Wales revealed that since the establishment of the Cardiff assembly in 1999, water quality has improved while the volume of litter has been reduced.

However the "State of the Welsh Environment" report found that more needs to be done to tackle waste and recycling issues if the assembly government's own goals are to be met.

Speaking at the launch of the report Jones said he was encouraged by the findings. "The positive news from this report is encouraging," he said.

"It shows that assembly environmental policies and investment, coupled with the hard work of our partners, is paying off in many areas.

"A healthy environment is vital to the future well-being of the country, not least because it underpins our £2.3 billion tourist industry and makes for a healthier population.

"Improvements highlighted in the report include a vast improvement in our bathing water quality through investment in better sewage treatment; a reduction by 50 per cent in litter on Welsh beaches since 1997; and the successful take-up of the assembly's agri-environmental scheme, Tir Gofal."

But Jones also recognised there was more work to be done.

"Four years is not a long time for environmental change to occur, and I recognise that on some issues we have yet to see major progress," he said.

"However, I am pleased that where problems are identified, the report's recommendations for action are very much in line with the policies we are already promoting.

"For example, on waste, we recognise the need for change and have published our waste strategy, 'Wise About Waste'.

"Our focus now is to work with local authorities and other partners to reduce the amount of rubbish we send to landfill in Wales, and to encourage people to play their part in recycling and reusing their household waste."