Wildlife protection legislation
There are numerous pieces of legislation to protect species and their habitats within England. Here are the key pieces of wildlife legislation:
- The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) – is the principal piece of legislation protecting wildlife in Great Britain and has been amended following revisions (Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment Act) 1985, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000). It aims to protect habitats, by designating them as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), as well as protecting individual species. All wild birds are given some protection during the breeding season, whilst protection to other species varies according to their conservation status.
- The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 – also known as the Habitats Regulations. They implement the EU Habitats Directive in Great Britain. The regulations require the Secretary of State to draw up a list of sites of European Community Importance that are then designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The regulations also give protection to European Protected Species, of which the great crested newt and bats are the most likely to be encountered in the Tees Valley.
- The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 – amends the Wildlife and Countryside Act and strengthens protection given to SSSIs and other important wildlife sites.
- The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 – protection is provided to badgers and their setts.
- The Hedgerow Regulations 1997 – these regulations introduced new arrangements for local planning authorities to protect important hedgerows in the countryside, by controlling their removal through a system of notification.
For more information on wildlife protection legislation visit www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside
