Gourt Home::Gourt :: Conservation in the United Kingdom
This page gives an overview of the complex structure of environmental and cultural conservation in the United Kingdom.
With the advent of devolved government for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and of evolving regional government for England, the responsibilities for environment and conservation in the United Kingdom have become more complicated.
There follows a list of the legislation, conservation bodies (both governmental and otherwise), and conservation designations, which work together to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the UK. A list of 'objects of conservation' provides further links.
Legislation
Some of the key legislation which governs conservation issues in the UK. This list is not exhaustive.
- Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979
- Badgers Act 1991
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
- Environment Act 1995
- Environmental Protection Act 1990
- National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
- Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
- Protection of Badgers Act 1992
- Weeds Act 1959
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Conservation bodies
Government departments
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
- Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD)
Governmental bodies
The following are Executive Agencies of the UK government and regional executives, with note on their areas of responsibility.United Kingdom
- Forestry Commission — Forestry management
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee — co-ordination of regional bodies
England
- Countryside Agency — protection of landscapes and rural countryside
- English Heritage — cultural and built heritage
- English Nature — nature and wildlife conservation
- Environment Agency — waterways, pollution, waste management
- Rural Development Service (RDS) — promotes sustainable rural practices
In October 2006, English Nature will be merged with the RDS and parts of the Countryside Agency to form Natural England.
Scotland
- Historic Scotland — cultural and built heritage
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) — waterways, pollution, waste management
- Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) — landscape protection, wildlife conservation
Wales
- Cadw — cultural and built heritage
- Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) — protection of landscapes and rural countryside
- Environment Agency — waterways, pollution, waste management
Northern Ireland
- Environment and Heritage Service (EHSNI) — conservation of natural and built heritage
- Forest Service Northern Ireland
Non-governmental organisations
- British Dragonfly Society
- British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
- British Waterfowl Association
- British Waterways
- Cam Valley Wildlife Group
- Civic Trust
- Civic Trust for Wales
- Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland
- Council for British Archaeology
- Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE)
- Environment Wales
- Historic Houses Association
- Institute of Conservation
- Marine Conservation Society
- National Gardens Scheme
- National Trust (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- National Trust for Scotland
- North East Civic Trust
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
- Scottish Civic Trust
- Scottish Forest Alliance
- Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Trinity House
- Ulster Wildlife Trust
- The Welsh Wildlife Trusts
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)
- The Wildlife Trusts partnership links to every county Wildlife Trust
- The Woodland Trust
Conservation designations
National Parks
Areas designated by Government Agencies
The following designations are established or monitored by the Executive Agencies listed above.
Other United Kingdom conservation designations
- Area of Archaeological Importance
- Area of High Archaeological Potential
- Conservation Area
- Country park
- Green Belt
- Listed building
- Local Nature Reserve
- Regional Park (UK)
- Scheduled Ancient Monument
International conservation designations
- Biosphere Reserves
- Ramsar Sites
- Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
- Special Protection Area (SPA)
- SACs and SPAs are part of Natura 2000
- World Heritage Sites
Other United Kingdom conservation policies
Objects of conservation
United Kingdom
- Botanical gardens in the United Kingdom
- Chalk figures in the United Kingdom
- Forests in the United Kingdom
- Heritage railway
- List of abbeys and priories
- List of castles
- List of gardens
- List of historic houses
- Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom
- Piers
- Roman sites in the United Kingdom
- Watermills in the United Kingdom
- Waterways in the United Kingdom
- Windmills in the United Kingdom
England
- Abbeys and priories in England
- Castles in England
- Cycleways in England
- English Heritage Properties in England
- Gardens in England
- Historic houses in England
- Lighthouses in England
- National Trust Properties in England
- Treasure Houses of England
Scotland
- Abbeys and priories in Scotland
- Castles in Scotland
- Cycleways in Scotland
- Gardens in Scotland
- Historic houses in Scotland
- Lighthouses in Scotland
- National Trust for Scotland Properties
Wales
- Abbeys and priories in Wales
- Castles in Wales
- Cycleways in Wales
- Gardens in Wales
- Historic houses in Wales
- Lighthouses in Wales
- List of Cadw (Welsh Heritage) Properties
- National Trust Properties in Wales
Northern Ireland
- Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland
- Castles in Northern Ireland
- Cycleways in Northern Ireland
- Gardens in Northern Ireland
- Historic houses in Northern Ireland
- Lighthouses in Northern Ireland
- National Trust Properties in Northern Ireland
See also
"Conservation in the United Kingdom"