Conservation in the United Kingdom
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.
There follows a list of the legislation, conservation bodies, 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
Some of the key legislation which governs conservation issues in the UK. This list is not exhaustive.- Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979
- Badgers Act 1991
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
- Environment Act 1995
- Environmental Protection Act 1990
- Environment Act 2016
- National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
- Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
- Planning Act 1990
- Protection of Badgers Act 1992
- Weeds Act 1959
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Conservation bodies
Government departments
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Directorates of the Scottish Government: Environment and Forestry Directorate
Governmental bodies
United Kingdom
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee — co-ordination of regional bodies
- Forestry Commission — co-ordinating international forestry policy support and certain plant health functions in respect of trees and forestry.
England
- Historic England — cultural and built heritage.
- Natural England — nature and wildlife conservation, landscape protection.
- Environment Agency — waterways, pollution, waste management.
- Forestry England — Forestry management
Scotland
- Forestry and Land Scotland — forestry management
- Historic Environment Scotland — cultural and built heritage
- Scottish Canals — management of inland waterways
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency — waterways, pollution, waste management
- Scottish Forestry — forestry regulation and support
- Scottish Natural Heritage — landscape protection, wildlife conservation
Wales
- Cadw — cultural and built heritage
- Natural Resources Wales — protection of landscapes and rural countryside, regulation of waterways, pollution, waste management
Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency — conservation of natural and built heritage
- Forest Service Northern Ireland
Non-governmental organisations
- Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland
- Botanical Society of the British Isles
- British Dragonfly Society
- British Trust for Ornithology
- British Waterfowl Association
- Buglife
- Butterfly Conservation
- The Canal & River Trust, formerly British Waterways
- Cam Valley Wildlife Group
- Civic Trust
- Civic Trust for Wales
- Boards of Conservators which have been established for specific areas.
- Council for British Archaeology
- Council for the Protection of Rural England
- Environment Wales
- Historic Houses Association
- Institute of Conservation
- John Muir Trust
- Marine Conservation Society
- National Gardens Scheme
- National Trust
- National Trust for Scotland
- Norfolk Conservation Corps
- North East Civic Trust
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- Scottish Civic Trust
- Scottish Forest Alliance
- Scottish Ornithologists' Club
- Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
- The Conservation Volunteers
- The Grasslands Trust
- Trinity House
- Ulster Wildlife Trust
- The Welsh Wildlife Trusts
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
- The Wildlife Trusts partnership links to every county Wildlife Trust
- The Woodland Trust
- The Animal Project
Conservation designations
National parks
- National parks
Areas designated by government agencies
| Designation | Abbreviation | Country | Agency |
| Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | AONB | England | Natural England |
| Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | AONB | Wales | CCW |
| Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | AONB | Northern Ireland | NIEA |
| Environmentally sensitive area | ESA | England | Natural England |
| Heritage coast | England | Natural England | |
| Heritage coast | Wales | CCW | |
| Marine nature reserve | MNR | ||
| National nature reserve | NNR | England | Natural England |
| National nature reserve | NNR | Scotland | SNH |
| National nature reserve | NNR | Wales | CCW |
| National nature reserve | NNR | Northern Ireland | NIEA |
| National scenic area | NSA | Scotland | SNH |
| Nitrate vulnerable zone | NVZ | England | Environment Agency |
| Scheduled monument | SAM | England | English Heritage |
| Scheduled monument | SAM | Scotland | Historic Scotland |
| Scheduled monument | SAM | Wales | Cadw |
| Scheduled monument | SAM | Northern Ireland | NIEA |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | SSSI | England | Natural England |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | SSSI | Scotland | SNH |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | SSSI | Wales | CCW |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | SSSI | Northern Ireland | NIEA |
| Special landscape area | SLA | Wales | CCW |
Other United Kingdom conservation designations
- Area of archaeological importance
- Area of archaeological potential
- Conservation area
- Country park
- Green belt
- Listed building
- Local nature reserve
- Regional park
- Regionally important geological site
International conservation designations
- Biosphere reserves
- Ramsar sites
- Special Area of Conservation
- Special Protection Area
- * SACs and SPAs are part of Natura 2000
- World Heritage Sites
Other United Kingdom conservation policies
- Article 4 direction
- United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan
Objects of conservation
United Kingdom
- Botanical gardens in the United Kingdom
- Chalk figures in the United Kingdom
- Forests in the United Kingdom
- Heritage railway
- List of abbeys and priories
- List of castles
- List of gardens
- List of historic houses
- Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom
- Piers
- Roman sites in the United Kingdom
- Watermills in the United Kingdom
- Waterways in the United Kingdom
- Windmills in the United Kingdom
England
- Abbeys and priories in England
- Castles in England
- Cycleways in England
- List of English Heritage properties
- Gardens in England
- Historic houses in England
- Lighthouses in England
- List of National Trust properties in England
- Treasure Houses of England
Scotland
- Abbeys and priories in Scotland
- Castles in Scotland
- Cycleways in Scotland
- Gardens in Scotland
- Historic houses in Scotland
- Lighthouses in Scotland
- National Trust for Scotland
Wales
- Abbeys and priories in Wales
- Castles in Wales
- Cycleways in Wales
- Gardens in Wales
- Historic houses in Wales
- Lighthouses in Wales
- List of Cadw properties
- List of National Trust properties in Wales
Northern Ireland
- Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland
- Castles in Northern Ireland
- Cycleways in Northern Ireland
- Gardens in Northern Ireland
- Historic houses in Northern Ireland
- Lighthouses in Northern Ireland
- List of National Trust properties in Northern Ireland