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, either online or in Nottingham or London. 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.

Responses to Consultation Papers led by the NCWP

• UKELA's response to the Nature Recovery Green Paper, led by the Nature Conservation Working Party (May 2022). Read paper
•  UKELA's response to The DEFRA and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies Stakeholder Consultation ( 28 January 2022). Read paper
• UKELA's response to the Local Nature Recovery Strategies consultation paper, led by the Nature Conservation Working Party (2 November 2021). Read paper
•  Joint response to the  Government’s Strategic Priorities for Ofwat, led by the Water Working Party and the Nature Conservation Working Party  (15 October 2021). Read paper.
•  The NCWP has written to the Environment Secretary about the landscapes review.  Read the letter from NCWP and the letter of response (March 2021).
•  UKELA Response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Inquiry into Tree Planting and Woodlands (December 2020) Read response
•  Joint response with Water WP to the River Basin Assessment consultation (October 2020).  Read paper

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 or online. 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, whenever possible, 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. Further information can be found here. The deadline for applications for 2022 is Friday 2 September. 

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?”