Designations and organisations

Designations and organisations

1. CITES

   • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Speices.
   • Regulates trade in endangered animals, plants or their products. Appendix I - species threatened with extinction, complete ban. Appendix II - species close to extinction, limited trade. Appendix III - species requested assistance for.

2. Wildlife & Countryside Act

   • Provides protection for species by protecting their habitats or banning exploitation/harming. SSSIs designated, uprooting of wild plants illegal, harming birds/nests illegal, protects mammals, bats not disturbed.

3. IWC

   • International Whaling Commission.
   • Control whaling, sustainable exploitation, total protection for some, whale sanctuaries designated, limits/size of catch, suckling mothers/calves protected, research.

4. LNR

   • Local Nature Reserves.
   • Designated under National Parks, Access to the Countryside Act. Owned/controlled by local authorities for benefit of wildlife and public. Protected from damaging activities in or around the reserve.

5. CFP

   • EU Common Fisheries Policy.
   • Ensures sustainable exploitation of fish, failed due to inability to set appropriate quotas and prevent undersize killing.

6. Natural England

   • SSSIs
     • Sites of Specific Scientific Interest.
     • Designated by Natural England, under Wildlife & Countryside Act, particular interest due to plants, animals, geological features or land forms. (Dee, Exe Estuaries, Isle of Portland.)
     • Owners consult with Natural England if activity is on 'Operations Likely to Damage.' Not banned but controlled. Management plans, grants if carried out. If no agreement, owner forced to sell.
   • NNR
     • National Nature Reserves.
     • Designated by Natural England under National Parks, Access to the Countryside Act. Aim to secure protection and management to wildlife habitats, scientific research, recreation. (Hatfield Forest, Wem Moss, Wicken Fen.)
   • MNR
     • Marine Nature Reserves.
     • Designated under Wildlife and Countryside Act. Conserve, provide opportunities for study of marine wildlife/geological/physiographical features. (Lundy and Skomer Island.)
   • SPAs
     • Special Protection Areas.
     • Designated by Natural England under EU Birds Directive. Protect, manage important areas to rare/vulnerable birds. (Exe, Severn and Humber Esturaries.)
   • SACs
     • Special Areas of Conservation.
     • Designated under EU Habitats Directive. Provide rate/vulnerable animals/plants/habitats with protection/management (Cannock Chase, Dartmoor.)
   • Aims - healthy, natural environment conserved/enhanced, enjoyment of environment, sustainable use, secure future, ecological research, advice and info, grants for management.
   • SSSIs, NNRs, MNRs, SPAs, SACs

7. Natura 200

   • SPAs and SACs together, protected EU sites. Each country responsible for own sites.

8. SRP

   • Species Recovery Programme.
   • Run by Natural England. Conserve particular endangered species. (Dormouse, lady's slipper orchid.)

9. DEFRA

   • Ramsar sites
     • Designated by DEFRA. Ensure the sustainable use of wetlands. (Minsmere, Exe Estuary.)
   • ESS
     • ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Areas.) replaced by Single Farm Payment and CSS (Countryside Stewardship Scheme)
     • Environmental Stewardship Scheme.
     • British landscape produced by farming, must be continued to conserve. Intensive farming is damaging. Provides financial support and rewards to farmers who carry out environmentally beneficial development. Payment to farmers, points awarded for features.
     • Aims - conserve, maintain and enhance landscape, protect historic environment, promote public access/understanding, protect natural resources.
     • Hedgerows to maintain landscape features and wildlife habitats, field buffer strips to protect rivers, wild bird seeds to provide winter bird food, low input grasslands to protect wildflowers, protection of archaeological sites, management to reduce soil erosion maintaining production and protecting rivers, in-field tree protection as a wildlife habitat and landscape feature, beetle banks to provide habitats and reduce pesticide use.
   • BAPs
     • Coordinated by DEFRA, involves other organisations. Established after the Rio Summit was signed. Species Action Plans, Habitat Action Plans, Local Action Plans.
   • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
   • Concern for climate change and energy, sustainable consumption/production, protection, sustainable communities, sustainable farming and food sector.

10. Forestry Commission.

    • Owns forests, timber production, wildlife conservation, education, recreation.

11. Voluntary

    • WWF
      • World Wide Fund for Nature.
      • Environmental issues, public awareness, lobbying industry and governments, education. Campaigns - Global climate change, endangered species, waste disposal, pollution, transport, energy, food miles.
    • RSPB
      • Royal Society for Protection of Birds.
      • Public awareness, lobbying industry and governments, education, research grants, joint activities, management of reserves, protect/enhance bird habitats, beneficial to other species.