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Conservation in the United Kingdom

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Conservation area signage in Carlton, Cambridgeshire.

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.[weasel words][how?]

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

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Conservation area in Lytham St Annes.

Some of the key legislation which governs conservation issues in the UK. This list is not exhaustive.

Conservation bodies

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Government departments

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Governmental bodies

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The following are Executive Agencies of the UK government and regional executives, with note on their areas of responsibility.

United Kingdom

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England

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Scotland

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The following are Public bodies of the Scottish Government, with notes on their areas of responsibility.

Wales

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  • 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

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Non-governmental organisations

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Conservation designations

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National parks

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Areas designated by government agencies

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The following designations are established or monitored by the executive agencies listed above.

Designation Abbreviation Country Agency
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB England Natural England
Wales NRW
Northern Ireland NIEA
Environmentally sensitive area ESA England Natural England
Heritage coast England Natural England
Wales NRW
Marine nature reserve MNR
National nature reserve NNR England Natural England
Scotland NatureScot
Wales NRW
Northern Ireland NIEA
National scenic area NSA Scotland NatureScot
Nitrate vulnerable zone NVZ England Environment Agency
Scheduled monument SAM England Historic England
Scotland Historic Environment Scotland
Wales Cadw
Northern Ireland NIEA
Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI England Natural England
Scotland NatureScot
Wales NRW
Northern Ireland NIEA
Special landscape area SLA Wales NRW

Other United Kingdom conservation designations

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International conservation designations

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Other United Kingdom conservation policies

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Objects of conservation

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United Kingdom

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England

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Scotland

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Wales

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Northern Ireland

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Environment and Forestry Directorate". Scottish Government. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Forestry devolution: resource list". Scottish Government. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  3. ^ Forestry England

Further reading

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  • 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.