Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
A number of species of animals and plants found in the wild are protected at a European and national level from being harmed or disturbed.
You may be committing an offence if you capture, kill, injure or disturb any protected animal or if you pick, collect, cut, uproot or destroy any protected plant species.
If your business needs to undertake an activity which is likely to disturb a protected species, such as development of a site, you must apply to either:
for a licence before carrying out the activity.
Protected species include:
Identifying whether these species are present on your site can be difficult, and you may need to get advice from the NIEA or from NatureScot.
Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC): Priority species
Before you apply to the NIEA, or NatureScot for a licence, you must have finalised all planning consents and conditions.
In addition to protected species, a number have been identified as Priority Species for Conservation Action. To check whether any species found on your land or premises are a priority you can check the lists at:
Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC): UK BAP Priority species lists
If you do have priority species, you should liaise with either:
over measures you can take to conserve them.
CITES regulates international trade in endangered species. If your business is involved in this trade, you must obtain a CITES permit to allow the movement of the species and their derivatives. You can find information from the CITES website.
Convention on Trade in endangered Species (CITES)
NatureScot: European protected species
How conservation and biodiversity relate to your business
How businesses rely on natural resources and services
Protected sites and priority habitats
Protected and priority species
Environmental damage to biodiversity
Managing biodiversity: Establish the baseline
Managing biodiversity: Create a site action plan
Managing biodiversity: Measure performance
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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