This page provides links to key pieces of relevant environmental legislation. Most of the links will direct you to the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) or Statute Law Database (SLD) websites.
It is important to remember that different parts of the UK have variations in environmental laws.
The future legislation section provides details of environmental legislation that is due to come into force as well as information on proposed developments in environmental law:
Future legislation
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended, not available online) SI 69
Bans certain methods of killing or taking wild animals, including birds, and restricts the introduction and sale of certain non-native animals and plants. Also sets out the amended laws relating to public rights of way.
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Protects certain birds, plants, animals, marine life and their habitats, including Natura 2000 sites, through creating criminal offences and changing planning requirements.
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Amends 1995/380 to make it illegal to trade in protected species of animals and wild plants from any EU country. Amends the definition of 'wild birds' to include all EU wild birds.
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Amends 1995/380 with additional measures for conserving natural habitats and wild flora and fauna in Northern Ireland, including modifying the offence of deliberately disturbing wild animals, particularly animals and plants protected by European law.
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Amends 1995/380 to cover monitoring capturing and killing, increasing the protection of wild animals, and reducing the scope of available defences.
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Covers several environmental issues, including pollution prevention control, assessment and management of air quality, and designation of areas of special scientific interest (ASSIs).
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Brings into force rules to force polluters to prevent and repair damage to water systems, land quality, species and their habitats and protected sites. The polluter does not have to be prosecuted first, so remedying the damage should be faster.
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Amends 2009/252 to update how warrants can be issued and enforced, give magistrates more flexibility in the fines they can apply for conviction and to clarify that references to European legislation include any future amendments.
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Establishes the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside and sets out the DoE's rights and duties to protect and enhance sites of natural beauty or special scientific interest in Northern Ireland.
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Amends 1989 to replace the Committee for Nature Conservation and the Ulster Countryside Committee with the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside.
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Requires that planning application decisions consider the potential environmental impact of the project. Sets out which developments require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the rules and procedures relating to EIAs.
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Makes it an offence to interfere with certain species of wild animals and plants, with certain exceptions, which require a licence. Specifies open and closed periods for hunting of limited species, with special protection for deer.
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Implements Directive 92/43/EEC on conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora. Makes it an offence to deliberately capture, kill, disturb or trade in protected animals; and to pick, collect, cut, uproot, destroy or trade in protected plants
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Amends 1994/2716 to bring the provisions for protection of European ‘Natura 2000’ sites into line with the protection regime set out in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Gives further protection to European protected species.
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Amends 1994/2716 to add further measures for conserving European protected species and extend circumstances when it is an offence to disturb, sell or exhange such species or products derived from them.
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Establishes the Environment Agency and SEPA as the regulatory bodies for contaminated land, control of pollution, conservation or enhancement of the environment and fisheries.
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Brings into force rules to force polluters to prevent and repair damage to water systems, land quality, species and their habitats and protected sites. The polluter does not have to be prosecuted first, so remedying the damage should be faster.
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Establishes a right to be on land for recreational, educational and some other purposes and to cross land (right to roam) if exercised responsibly. Also details how rural and crofting organisations may buy land they are connected with.
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Establishes Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) as the main body responsible for securing and promoting the conservation of Scotland’s natural scenery, flora and fauna.
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Establishes National Parks in Scotland, including setting up National Park Authorities, their powers, finances and “management agreements” between National Park Authority landowners or occupiers.
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Deals with the conserving biodiversity and protecting and enhancing Scotland’s natural features. Also amends rules on protecting certain birds, animals and plants.
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Makes it illegal to hunt a wild mammal with a dog, eg fox and deer hunting with a pack, or a landowner/occupier to knowingly allow someone to hunt a wild mammal with a dog on their land, or a dog's owner to knowingly allow someone to use it for hunting.
Further information
The current environmental legislation lists provide links to key environmental statutes and regulations.
Current environmental legislation
For further information on relevant legislation contact your environmental regulator or local council.
Contact your environmental regulator
Contact your local council
