Nature and biodiversity protection

Biodiversity and Wildlife incorporates wildlife conservation, wildlife licensing and wildlife crime, and also biodiversity topics including biodiversity litigation, international biodiversity law, UK biodiversity law and policy, and the evolution and background of biodiversity and its key concepts. It includes both species protection and habitats protection, and often has to be taken into account in the context of development. It involves national and European law and international conventions and treaties. For information on the impact of Brexit on the application of environmental law see Practice Note: Brexit—impact on environmental law—EU law after Brexit.

Wildlife Conservation

Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting endangered plant and animal species, together with their habitats.

Wildlife issues for developers

A developer who has bought, or who is thinking of buying, land for development must consider whether the land is a protected site or is populated by a protected species.

For more information, see:

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Practice Note: Habitats and wildlife issues for developers
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Environmental issues in transactions—overview

Protected species

Europe is home to more than 500 wild bird species. However, many of these species need improved conservation measures to continue

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Latest Environment News

Environment weekly highlights—24 July 2025

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: news analyses on the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy 2025, Commons progress with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and Lords amendments, the draft Finance Bill 2026, the Supreme Court's approach to public interest exemptions under FIA 2000, a Market Insights Trend report on trends in sustainability disclosures in corporate reporting and the Inter- American Court of Human Rights Advisory Opinion OC-32/25 of 29 May 2025. In addition this week, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published responses to three consultations on proposed expansions of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS), the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced plans to halve sewage pollution from water companies by 2030, the Independent Water Commission has published its final report on water sector regulatory reform and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has confirmed it will conclude its investigation into combined sewer overflow (CSO) regulation.

Defra publishes principles for identifying compensatory MPAs linked to offshore wind developments

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published a policy paper outlining principles for identifying and selecting compensatory marine protected areas (MPAs) to provide strategic compensation for the likely environmental effects of certain offshore wind developments on seabed habitats. The principles apply to Secretary of State waters, including offshore areas around Northern Ireland—though no compensatory MPAs will be proposed there. The designation process will follow six stages: data collation, options development, advice drafting, public consultation, ministerial designation and site management. The process will also be guided by ecological, policy, social and economic factors, with decisions informed by evidence and stakeholder engagement. Designation options include extending the boundaries of existing MPAs, adding new features within existing sites or designating new MPAs.

ICJ publishes advisory opinion on States’ climate change obligations

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has published its advisory opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change. The ICJ unanimously held that climate change treaties, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, impose binding obligations on States parties to protect the climate system and the broader environment from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. It further concluded that under international human rights law, States must respect and ensure the effective enjoyment of human rights by taking necessary measures to safeguard the climate and environment. The ICJ emphasised that any breach of these obligations by a State constitutes an internationally wrongful act that entails State responsibility. The responsible State remains under a continuing duty to fulfil the breached obligation. Legal consequences of such wrongful acts may include: (a) cessation of the wrongful actions or omissions, if ongoing; (b) provision of assurances and guarantees of non-repetition of wrongful actions or omissions, if required by the circumstances; and (c) full reparation to affected States through restitution, compensation or satisfaction, provided that the general conditions of the law of State responsibility are met.

Defra publishes policy paper on NCEA programme

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published a policy paper outlining the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme. The policy paper details the purpose of the NCEA which is to survey England’s land, freshwater and coastal ecosystems and produce a baseline assessment of the country’s natural assets by 2029. The NCEA is a science innovation and transformation programme that supports the government’s wider goal of restoring and enhancing the environment. In addition to the baseline, the NCEA is investing in Defra’s long-term environmental monitoring capabilities to enable the adoption of a natural capital approach to policy and decision-making. The paper also sets out the key objectives underpinning this work and highlights the strategic partnerships formed to support delivery of the programme.