International Statutes

The UK is bound by international legislation on species protection (see Table 1 ). The 1992 Habitats Directive covers all the countries of the European Union. Under these Directives, strict protection (very similar to provisions under the Wildlife and Countryside Act) is required for a large number of plant and animal species. For another group of animals and plants listed in the Habitats Directive, conservation measures are required if killing or taking from the wild poses a threat to these species. They include the White-clawed crayfish and the Freshwater pearl mussel ( Margaritifera margaritifera). The Habitats Directive is given effect in the UK by the 1994 Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations.

The UK has signed up to other international agreements on wildlife protection

• The Bern Convention covers the states in the Council of Europe. It gives protection to threatened plants, animals and habitats, and regulates the exploitation of certain species.

• CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and Flora) regulates international trade in threatened animals and plants (including the Medicinal leech).

• The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which was drawn up at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, requires this country to take action to conserve its threatened species and habitats. As a result, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan has been drawn up and this includes practical measures for the conservation of many of Britain’s rare and declining species.

Species Action Plans may include:

• captive breeding programmes
• re-introductions
• legislation (like regulation of crayfish farming)
• education and publicity
• local community involvement
• habitat conservation measures

In England and Wales all Government and public bodies are required under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC Act) to have a regard for the conservation of biodiversity and under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) Government must publish a list of species of principle importance for the conservation of biodiversity and take, or promote the taking by others, reasonably practicable steps to further the conservation of the listed species. In Scotland the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 makes it the duty of every public body and office-holder, in exercising any functions, to further the conservation of biodiversity so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions.

Note: New regulations to implement the Habitats Directive more fully came into force on 21 August 2007. There are a number of significant changes for invertebrates in this legislation, most notably it is now illegal to trade in all of the species listed on the Directive, not just those species that live in the UK. Having identified a couple of apparent ambiguities in the interpretation and scope of the new regulations Buglife is awaiting a response from Defra to our enquiries before updating our legislative web pages. To see the new regulations please click here to go to the Defra website.