Conservation in the United Kingdom explained
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.
Conservation bodies
Government departments
Environment and Forestry Directorate[1]
Governmental bodies
The following are Executive Agencies of the UK government and regional executives, with note on their areas of responsibility.
United Kingdom
England
Scotland
The following are Public bodies of the Scottish Government, with notes on their areas of responsibility.
Wales
- Cadw - cultural and built heritage
- Natural Resources Wales (NRW) (formerly Countryside Council for Wales, Forestry Commission Wales and Environment Agency Wales) - protection of landscapes and rural countryside, regulation of waterways, pollution, waste management
Northern Ireland
Non-governmental organisations
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
International conservation designations
Other United Kingdom conservation policies
Objects of conservation
See also: List of biodiversity conservation sites in the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
See also
Further reading
- Clapp, Brian William. An Environmental history of Britain since the industrial revolution (Routledge, 2014).
- Sheail, John. Rural Conservation in Inter-War Britain (1981) online
- Sheail, John. An Environmental History of Twentieth-Century Britain (Red Globe Press, 2002)
- Simmons, Ian G. An environmental history of Great Britain : from 10,000 years ago to the present (Edinburgh University Press), 2001.
Notes and References
- Web site: Environment and Forestry Directorate. 7 August 2019. Scottish Government.
- Web site: Forestry devolution: resource list. 2019-04-01. 2 April 2019. Scottish Government.
- https://www.forestryengland.uk/ Forestry England
