BIOLOGY Volume 1 - A Guide to General Biology - 2004

10. ORGANISMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

10.9. Environmental Conservation

10.9.7. Environmental Conservation Organizations in Britain

Environmental conservation involves a multitude of industrial companies, groups, and agencies operating at local, national, and international levels. All of them contribute in various ways to fostering environmental awareness in society and implementing sustainable practices for the exploitation of natural resources.

Non-Governmental Organizations

In Britain, the membership of environmental non-governmental organizations such as the National Trust (NT), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and various Wildlife Trusts has doubled since 1980. Every county and major city has its own Wildlife Trust that owns and manages small nature reserves. Operating largely on a voluntary basis, these trusts safeguard regionally important landscapes and involve their members in wildlife surveys and fundraising. Across the country, 48 county Wildlife Trusts collectively manage over 2,000 nature reserves. These organizations are linked with 50 similar urban groups established later, together forming the Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC) Wildlife Trusts Partnership. Their youth club, "WATCH," has organized numerous nationwide educational projects, typically sponsored by industrial companies. Recent Examples include the ozone layer monitoring project funded by Volvo and a three-year river monitoring program supported by the National Grid. The RSPB owns 126 nature reserves, which are generally quite large. Although primarily intended for bird protection, they provide a sanctuary for A wide variety of wildlife. The Young Ornithologists' Club is a corporate member of the RSPB.

Other organizations, such as the NT, protect not only wildlife and landscapes but also historical monuments. Nevertheless, the NT owns 340 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in rural and coastal areas. Groups such as the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and the Woodland Trust have more specialized objectives. Organizations such as Friends of the Earth (FoE) and the Councils for the Protection of Rural England, Scotland and Wales (CPRE, CPRS, CRRW respectively) engage in political lobbying and direct intervention on a broader scale. Greenpeace is an influential international agency renowned for its controversial, sometimes aggressive, but often highly effective campaigns for flora and fauna conservation; it is an international NGO headquartered in England that specializes in the preservation of rare species. Much better known is the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which is also based in Britain. It raises substantial funds for species and habitat conservation and is particularly active in international projects, In addition to sponsoring a wide range of environmental education programs.

Government Organizations

Although the public movement is well-developed in Britain, There are also many governmental (or government-funded) bodies dedicated to environmental quality and nature conservation. The main agencies of this type—the Nature Conservancy Council and the National Parks Commission—were established immediately after World War II. The former, reorganized in 1973 as the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC), was responsible for establishing National Nature Reserves (NNR) to preserve the finest examples of Britain's wildlife and natural habitats. By 1990, over two hundred such reserves had been established on the country's largest island. The same Organization designated SSSIs, of which there are currently approximately 6,000 protected sites across Britain.

The National Parks Commission was tasked with establishing national parks in Britain. Its success was limited because it was not granted landownership rights. Its role was to encourage and advise local authorities and county councils to take appropriate action. In the 1950s, ten national parks were established in England and Wales, primarily in mountainous and coastal regions. The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads did not achieve this status until 1988.

In 1968, the National Parks Commission was replaced by the Countryside Commission (CC), which shifted its focus to broader rural issues. Specifically, it is responsible for designating Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and stretches of heritage coastline, as well as developing walking routes to enjoy them. It also advises local and regional planning authorities on countryside issues, paying particular attention to the urban-fringe zone. It encourages the creation of county-run parks for recreational and educational purposes to alleviate visitor pressure on more sensitive and scientifically significant sites formerly managed by the NCC (see below).

In 1987, the government began allocating funds for Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA), encouraging farmers to maintain traditional farming practices in areas where modern agricultural Methods might harm the environment. This program includes the South Downs, an area that was denied national park status in the 1950s. Since 1990, to combat food overproduction in Europe, farmers have been required to take a portion of their land out of agricultural production. When implemented sensibly, this scheme offers new opportunities to enhance rural landscape diversity and conserve wildlife.

Other important government bodies include the Forestry Commission, established in 1919, and the National Rivers Authority (NRA), established in 1989, which merged with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution in April 1996 to form the new Environment Agency. The Forestry Commission is responsible for timber production. It is required to balance its commercial operations with nature conservation interests and to cooperate with relevant government and public bodies. Although the Forestry Commission was heavily criticized in the past for large-scale linear plantings of exotic conifer species, it now pays much greater attention to landscape, wildlife, and recreational values in its woodlands. Native broadleaved trees, which are vital for recreating typical British woodland habitats, are planted on clear-felled sites. The National Rivers Authority (now the Environment Agency) is responsible for Water quality and water resources management in England and Wales, overseeing water abstraction from rivers, flood defense measures, and related activities.

In 1990, the British government passed new environmental protection legislation. It established a legal framework for pollution control, environmental assessment, wildlife protection, and rural landscape conservation. This led to a major restructuring of British conservation agencies, splitting them into independent bodies for England, Scotland, and Wales. In England, the organization English Nature replaced the NCC while remaining independent of the CC. In Scotland and Wales, the national Branches of the NCC merged with the Countryside Councils for Wales and Scotland to form unified wildlife and countryside agencies, named the Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage, respectively. A new coordinating body, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), was established, comprising representatives from all these national groups. This committee deals with issues concerning major estuaries, such as the Severn Estuary and the Solway Firth, management of which requires cooperation between national agencies.

Nature conservation in Britain is increasingly influenced by EC environmental initiatives. A major milestone has been the European Habitats Directive, which aims to promote the conservation of biological diversity. Every EC member state is required to identify sites of Community importance. The final list of Europe's key conservation areas will then be agreed upon and approved by the EC leadership. These designated Special Areas for Conservation (SAC) will receive strict protection under European law. The full Structure/175.html">Implementation of this scheme, known as Natura 2000, is scheduled for 2004.