Environmental Studies AS - Conservation in the UK

Organisations involved in conservation in the UK

Methods of habitat conservation in the UK

Semi-natural habitats

Governmental organisations

Designated protected areas in the UK

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Forestry Commission

Voluntary conservation organisations

World Wide Fund for Nature

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Other voluntary conservation organisations

Traditional land uses that have produced valuable wildlife habitats

Threatened habitats in the UK

Broadleaf woodland

Wetlands

The Broads

Lowland heathland

Hedgerows

Hay meadows

Chalk grassland

Upland moorland

Coasts and estuaries

Many other excellent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in conservation and other environmental issues.


Includes National Trust, Friends of the Earth (FoE), Greenpeace and the Marine Conservation Society.

Natural England

Replaced English Nature and the Countryside Agency in 2006.

Natural England stated aims include:

  • Healthy natural environment.
  • Enjoyment of the natural environment.
  • Sustainable use of the natural environment.
  • Secure environmental future.

Natural England activities include:

  • Ecological research.
  • Provide advice and information on wildlife conservation.
  • Provide grants for conservation management.
  • Designation of protected areas.

Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs)

Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)

National Nature Reserves (NNRs)

Natura 2000

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Species Recovery Programme (SRP)

Biodiversity Action Plans

Agri-environmental schemes - the Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ESS)

Ramsar sites

Owns large forests which timber production used to be the only aim.


Wildlife conservation, education and recreation now important.

RSPB activities include:

  • Raising public awareness on environmental issues.
  • Lobbying industry and governments.
  • Education.
  • Research grans to fund other conservation organisations.
  • Joint activities with other conservation organisations.

WWF campaigns include:

  • Global climate change.
  • Endangered species.
  • Waste disposal and pollution.
  • Transport.
  • Home energy conservation.
  • Food miles.

An international charity operating in over 90 countries.


Campaigns on a wide variety of environmental issues, raising public awareness, lobbying industry and governments, helping educational organisations and providing funding for environmental projects.

An independent charity.
It's the UK member of Birdlife International.


Bird conservation is the focus of RSPB's activities but broader environmental issues are covered, including energy, pollution, transport and agriculture.

Main RSPB activity is the purchase and management of reserves to protect and enhance bird habitats.
RSPB manages/owns over 150 nature reserves.
Birds may be the main priority but the habitat management also benefits many other species.
Most reserves are open to the public, many with facilities such as visitor centres, observation hides and guided walks.

Hunting and fishing

Woodland management

Farming

Grazing

Maintenance of cover

Moorland burning

Fishing

Coppicing and pollarding

Field boundary maintenance

Threats to Wetlands include:

  • Drainage for farmland.
  • Urban expansion.
  • Straightening of rivers.
  • Excessive recreation pressure.
  • Bank reinforcement.
  • Pollution

Threats to The Broads include:

  • Traditional crafts + Secondary succession.
  • Eutrophication.
  • Introduced species.
  • Recreation pressure.
  • Global climate change and sea level rise.

Threats to Lowland heathland include:

  • Urban expansion.
  • Conifer plantations.
  • Golf courses.
  • Stopping the use of burning (management technique)

Threats to Hedgerows include:

  • Increase arable field size for easier machinery use.
  • Increase farmable area and food harvests.
  • Road widening.
  • Fence replacement.
  • Vehicle damage.
  • Neglect by ceasing traditional management.

Threats to Chalk grassland include:

  • Intensive farming with ploughing and fertiliser use to substitute for fertile soil.
  • 'Improved' grassland (Ground sprayed with pesticides, ploughed then re-seeded with more productive grass varieties).
  • Urban expansion and road building.
  • Abandonment of grazing allowing secondary succession.

Threats to Hay meadows include:

  • 'Improved' grassland.
  • Change in grassland management to silage cutting.

Threats to Upland moorland include:

  • 'Improved' grassland.
  • Afforestation with conifers.
  • Reservoir construction.
  • Abandonment of grazing or grouse shooting, allowing secondary succession.
  • Increased visitor pressure (result of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000)).

Threats to Coasts and estuaries include:

  • Port developments.
  • Pollution from rivers drain into estuaries.
  • Land reclamation.
  • Pollution from industrial developments.

Threats to Broadleaf woodland include:

  • Unsustainable deforestation.
  • Clearance for agriculture.
  • Urban expansion.
  • Lack of management.
  • Conifer plantations.