Wildlife law, policy and guidance

The following table provides a summary:

European legislation
  • EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), transposed into UK law by the Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulations 2017 (as amended)

National legislation

  • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
  • Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 (as amended)
  • Environment (Wales) Act 2016 
  • The Protection of Badgers Act 1992
  • The Hedgerows Regulations 1997

National and local policy and guidance 
  • Planning Policy Wales Edition 11 (2021) Chapter 6
  • Technical Advice Note 5 (2009)
  • Nature Recovery Action Plan Wales 
  • A Nature Recovery Action Plan for the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park 2019-2024 
  • Local Development Plan for the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (2013)
  • SPG: Biodiversity and Development (2016)
  • SPG: Biodiversity in the Towns of the National Park (2014) 

Useful information and web links:

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation  

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is  the principal adviser to the Welsh Government on the environment, and has guidance on European protected species, UK protected species and protected (designated) sites. 

The Welsh Government has issued the following policy and guidance on wildlife and planning issues:

The Wales Biodiversity Partnership oversees key actions to promote biodiversity in Wales including the priority habitats and species identified under the Environment (Wales) Act 2006; these are known as the Section 7 Lists.

Use the navigation bar on the left or the links below for more specific information on key topics.