Natural England has published nine new draft Conservation Advice packages to enable developers and operators to understand the impact of their proposed development on habitats and species in protected sites across England. These new packages of online advice, now available on the Natural England’s Designated Site System, cover sites which are home to England’s seahorses, black bream breeding sites and internationally important populations of seabirds.
These sites include the Isles of Scilly Special Protection Area (SPA), Utopia Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), and Studland Bay MCZ in Dorset. In line with the government guidance, Natural England is also working on advice for four new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), protecting our diverse species and habitats in the blue belt around the English Coast.
In common with most organisations dealing with the effects of COVID-19, Natural England is following government guidance and taking all steps necessary to protect our staff and help prevent the spread of the virus. This includes the advice and guidance we offer, and our regulatory work.
Anna Millard, Conservation Advice Project Manager said:
Conservation Advice helps us turn protected sites from lines on a map into something that can be well-managed and delivers conservation gains.
By conserving and restoring these sites, we can help to build more resilience into our landscapes and seas, protecting them for future generations.
Background:
- learn more about how to access the Conservation Advice packages by watching the how to video on Natural England’s YouTube channel
- marine advice packages are now available on the Designated Site System (DSS).
- terrestrial sites are available on the ‘Access to Evidence’ catalogue
- organisations and individuals can comment on the NE draft advice until Wednesday 17 June 2020. For more information, please email MCAProject@naturalengland.org.uk
- all sites will be available through the DSS in the near future