Nature Conservation
Terms of Reference
The scope of the Working Party is to consider issues for and affecting nature conservation. Input to landscape related issues may also be appropriate.
This Working Party’s terms of reference are to:
- monitor and provide comments / observations on proposed legislation and policies;
- monitor the implementation of existing legislation and policies;
- seek to influence relevant legislation and policies as and when opportunities arise;
- work with and support the devolved administrations working parties on issues for and affecting nature conservation / landscape;
- to better seek engagement with the devolved Countries on the increasingly diverse nature conservation/landscape legislative frameworks;
- work with and support other working parties as and when necessary; and
- arrange the wildlife law training course for members and non-members annually.
The Working Party is led by two co-convenors, currently Pip Goodwin and Eunice Pinn. We also have a Chair, currently Richard Barlow of Browne Jacobson.
The Working Party meets four times a year. Two meetings are held in Nottingham (January and May), one in London (September) and the fourth at the conference. Minutes of the meetings can be obtained from the co-conveners.
The Working Party has around 40 members working in different fields concerned with nature conservation. Participants include individuals from statutory agencies and non-governmental organisations, environmental and planning consultants, lawyers in private and public sector practice and academics. Only UKELA members are eligible to join the Working Party although guests are welcome at meetings.
If you would like to join the Working Party, please contact the Co-Convenors Pip Goodwin and Eunice Pinn.
Wildlife Law Course and Bursary
Through the auspices of the UK Environmental Law Association, members of the Nature Conservation Working Party arrange an introductory course on wildlife law. The course usually runs in November, kindly hosted by Browne Jacobson at their Nottingham office. The course is designed for those whose jobs require them to understand the practical impact of the legislation surrounding wildlife. It concentrates on enabling participants to make the best use of the law on the ground and to avoid the pitfalls that accompany such a technical subject as the law.
The wildlife law course makes a little profit due to the generosity of the tutors and Browne Jacobson solicitors. This is used to fund a bursary of up to £1,000 to support a post graduate research project addressing wildlife law.
The successful candidate will produce a paper for UKELA elaw or a peer reviewed journal, and be required to give a presentation on the project to the NCWP.
Previous Wildlife Law Bursary Awards
2019: Shehana Gomez “Indigenous peoples and biodiversity”
2018: Jessica Allan "The Legal and Cultural Implications of De-extinction and Species Return "
2016: Joanna Miller Smallwood “The Convention on Biological Diversity’s objectives include conservation of biological diversity at a global level but has it become another victim of extinction as a result of its text and strategic plan?”
Recent Events and Activities
Landscapes Review February 2021 - with letter of response
The NCWP has written to the Environment Secretary about the landscapes review. Read the letter from NCWP and the letter of response received in March 2021.
Joint response with Water WP to the River Basin Assessment consultation October 2020
Other information
Annual Conference 2020
The group held a Working Party session during the online annual conference on Friday 26th June 2020. The recording is on our website here.
Tom Huggon and 50 years in Nature Conservation Law
Tom Huggon retired in 2019 after being at the forefront of environmental law for 50 years. Tom was a founding member of the Solicitors Ecology Group in the early 70s which became the Lawyers Ecology Group. This group then merged into UKELA when it was formed in 1986. UKELA Council awarded Tom with Honorary Membership at the conference. The NCWP also recognised his contribution through donations towards Nottingham Wildlife Trust and their urban wildlife campaign, raising £500 for 33 swift boxes. These boxes will have a great impact locally for the swifts when they return each year to breed.