Natural England - How is biodiversity protected and managed?

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How is biodiversity protected and managed?

• protecting the best wildlife sites,

• promoting the recovery of declining species and habitats,

• embedding biodiversity into all policy and decision-making,

• enthusing people,

• developing the evidence base, and

• working with others to deliver our goals

Statutory designation

A key way of protecting our biodiversity is having a network of protected areas where organisms can thrive. These sites are known as ‘designated sites’ and preserve the best of England’s wildlife.

• Nationally important sites for biodiversity are protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Some SSSIs may also be National Nature Reserves (NNRs).

• Many SSSIs are also designated as ‘International Sites’ for their international importance. The designations are Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar sites.

• At Natural England, we are working with others to identify a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2012.

• Locally important sites for biodiversity may be declared as Local Nature Reserves (LNRs).

Outside SSSIs

There are many threatened species and habitats that are not protected through designated sites. A series of laws and rules has been introduced to preserve these habitats and species. They include:

• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 give protection to some of the most threatened species in England.

• The Hedgerows Regulations (1997)

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for uncultivated land and semi-natural areas (2002)

• Heather and Grass Burning Regulations and Code (2007) provide protection for habitats.

• Environmental protection is influenced by new European legislation such as the Environmental Liability Directive.

Biodiversity Duty

• There is now a biodiversity duty for local authorities and other public bodies to have regard for biodiversity.

Planning policy

The natural environment is protected through a range of planning polices.

• Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS9), sets out planning policies on protection of biodiversity conservation through the planning system.

Strategies

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) was published in 1994 in response to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The UK BAP sets out a programme for conserving biodiversity in the UK and includes lists of species and habitats which are conservation priorities.

Priorities for habitat and species conservation in England have been published.

Progress against habitat and species action plans is reported on the Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS).

The European Union has set an ambitious target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

The England Biodiversity Strategy seeks to ensure biodiversity considerations become embedded in all main sectors of public policy and sets out how to make the changes necessary to protect biodiversity.

Securing Biodiversity - a new framework for delivering priority habitats and species in England (2008) sets out the new landscape-scale approach to delivering bidiversity priority habitats and species. 

Working in partnership

Regional Biodiversity Partnerships seek to share good practice, influence regional policy and establish cross-regional working for biodiversity.

Regional Biodiversity Contact Details

Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) set out actions to conserve and enhance the biodiversity of a particular area through local partnership work.

Recovery of species is achieved through our Species Recovery Programme, which supports several large partnerships with conservation organisations, including Butterfly Conservation, RSPB and the Bat Conservation Trust.

Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage is an example of a successful partnership, which has achieved substantial habitat conservation.

The European Heathland Network has been established to enable all persons involved or interested in ecological research, conservation of wildlife, and in policy formulation and implementation in relation to European heathlands to meet, to stimulate discussion, to promote communication, to further the understanding of heathland ecosystems and to disseminate information as widely as possible.

Management

The main mechanism for achieving management of habitats and species in England is through farming and land stewardship schemes.

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    • International Year of Biodiversity
    • Why is biodiversity important ?
    • England's biodiversity
    • What are the threats to biodiversity ?
    • How is biodiversity protected and managed ?
    • What funding is available for biodiversity?
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