Natural England - European Protected Species

European Protected Species

Advice and legislation relating to European protected species and Licensing.

European Protected Species are animals and plants that receive protection under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. From 1st April 2010, this legislation updates and consolidates all the amendments to the Regulations since they were first made in 1994.

You can download a full list of all Species listed on Annex IV of the Habitats Directive with common names: (125kb), including those not resident in the UK.

Seasonal tips

Great Crested Newt – Pitfall trapping reminder May 2011

Due to the prolonged spell of dry weather in much of England, pitfall trapping is likely to have been difficult. It is important that good practice guidelines for pitfall trapping are followed, and it is only carried out in suitable conditions, particularly when the ground is damp as a result of rainfall in the last few days. Newt movement is likely to be reduced in very dry conditions, and the minimum trapping duration licensed for mitigation projects is based on a minimum number of suitable nights.
Please note, that artificial irrigation of land is not accepted as a means of ‘creating’ suitable conditions during periods of dry weather. There is no evidence to suggest this is effective in increasing capture efficiency in unsuitable weather. If areas are artificially ‘watered’ to try and encourage newt movement and allow capture, this cannot count as ‘suitable’ days in the absence of rain.

Great Crested Newt Surveys

Ensure survey equipment is properly disinfected between different site visits
With the onset of spring, hundreds of surveys will now be undertaken in ponds across England. Due to the risk of spreading disease through these surveys, all surveyors should be aware of, and follow, the ARG-UK guidance on how to minimise the risk of spreading disease (particularly Chytridiomycosis) between amphibian populations. There is detailed ARG guidance available. Further guidance on chytridiomycosis in relation to licensing can be found in our FAQ’s: (562kb).
Ensure surveys are spread across the season
Wherever possible, Natural England recommends that surveys of ponds are spread across the survey season in accordance with the Great crested newt mitigation guidelines. Spreading surveys across the season will maximise the likelihood of identifying the peak of newt breeding within a particular pond. ‘Clustering’ surveys over a short period (even if it is within the recommended survey season) can result in the peak in newt numbers being missed and an inaccurate population size class assessment being made.

White-nose syndrome - advice for batworkers

With the bat hibernation season upon us and the recent discovery of Geomyces destructans (the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome) in Europe, the Bat Conservation Trust in conjunction with Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, has revised the white-nose syndrome guidance for bat workers in the UK and the Isle of Man.

This new guidance has been divided into sections that define what is being asked of licensed and unlicensed bat workers undertaking hibernation and swarming surveys. We ask that all individuals visiting underground sites familiarise themselves with this guidance, particularly the sample protocols and decontamination advice. We also suggest regularly checking the Bat Conservation Trust website, to keep up to date with suspect cases under investigation.

If you have any questions about this advice please contact the Bat Conservation Trust on 0845 1300 228 or alternatively email LWorledge@bats.org.uk or hmiller@bats.org.uk.

Latest News

(16th January) Minor amendments have been made to two Natural England documents. A small change has been made to the flowchart on How to get a Licence WML-G12: (1mb). The contact details have been updated in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects guidance WML-G36.: (394kb) Thank you to a customer for raising this omission.
(21st December) The latest EPS mitigation licensing newsletter: (244kb) has just been released. Please note that our How to get a licence guidance: (1mb) has been updated.
(21st December) Interim guidance on dormouse surveying to support mitigation licence applications has been released WML-G37: (277kb). Survey queries are the most common dormouse questions from our customers. This guidance aims to dispel the common misconceptions with regard to surveying and provide advice on what is required by Natural England so we hope that you find it useful.
(15th December) New guidance is now available to help developers and consultant ecologists engage with Natural England about Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and European Protected Species (EPS): (394kb). Please note that this guidance will be kept under review and may be amended. For NSIPs involving EPS, our Regulation team will provide you with early advice and opinion on your proposals in relation to all 3 licensing tests, without a planning consent needing to be in place. This is so the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) can have confidence that Natural England has considered the issues relating to protected species.
(10th November) Reptile Mitigation Guidelines (TIN102) have been withdrawn. Following some useful early feedback from ecological consultants, Natural England has decided to withdraw the first edition of Technical Information Note 102, dated 9 September 2011. We wish to ensure that the guidelines are as clear and widely accepted as possible. We welcome any further comments on the first edition before 1 January 2012. The second edition of the Reptile Mitigation Guidelines will be issued as soon as possible, certainly before the start of the next active season for reptiles, please follow previously published guidance in the interim period.