European Protected Species
Safeguarding European Protected Species
A number of changes have been made to the Habitats Regulations that increase the legal protection given to protected species wherever they are found in Wales. Several of the species covered by the Regulations are found in woodland, and it will therefore have implications for how woodlands are managed and forestry operations carried out.
Forestry Commission Wales has been developing the means of implementing these changes and embedding them within the forestry sector. We are committed to increasing the sustainable management of Wales’ woodlands, not least for the biodiversity protected by the Habitats Regulations. As such we have worked with partners to ensure that this amendment is as far as possible drawn into best practice guidance for sustainable forestry, rather than being an additional regulatory measure.
The amended regulations will require changes to the management of woodlands and forestry operations in areas where European protected species (EPS) are found. The species that can occur in Wales’ woodlands are:
- all 17 species of bat
- dormouse
- great crested newt
- otter
(The natterjack toad and some of the plant species, may rarely occur in woodlands or be affected by forest operations.)
What woodland managers need to do to comply with the Habitats Regulations
A series of tools have been developed to help support and advise woodland owners and managers on how to manage woodland where there are European protected species present. This guidance is in compliance with sustainable forestry management practices and the Habitats Regulations. Please note that guidance may be updated periodically.
Set out on these pages are the following tools:
Guidance documents
General guidance which sets out the changes to the Regulations. This includes a decision-making tree which illustrates what woodland managers should consider when deciding whether they need to apply for a licence.
- Part 1 General guidance [PDF format]
- Decision Tree [PDF format]
- FCW guidance note on forest operations and EPS in Welsh forests [PDF format]
- Forestry questions and answers [PDF format]
- WAG habitats regulation questions and answers
Specific guidance by species sets out how to find out if EPS are present in your wood and how to operate if they are. This will include good practice guidance on bats, dormouse, great crested newt and otter.
- all 17 species of bat [PDF]
- dormouse [PDF]
- great crested newt [PDF]
- otter [PDF]
Licence application form and supporting documents
- Application for a European Protected Species licence – forestry or woodland operations (MS Word™ document - 181kb)
- FM05b EPS Checklist (MS Word™ document - 203kb)
- FM05b EPS Checklist (Adobe Acrobat™ PDF - 125kb)
- Approach to Appropriate Assessments and European Protected Species (Adobe Acrobat™ PDF - 340kb)
- 2007 Amendments to Habitat Regulations - Changes to the Law & Impact of Changes (Adobe Acrobat™ PDF - 1885kb)
This form has been produced in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government and Countryside Council for Wales. Please note that this form can be completed electronically but needs to be printed, signed and sent in hardcopy format to either the Countryside Council for Wales or to the Welsh Assembly Government for processing, their contact details are to be found on the form.
Advice and Demonstration
Any queries in relation to European Protected Species legislation and its inter relationship with forestry or woodland operations should be made in the first instance to your local Grants & Licences Woodland Officer. For individual contact telephone numbers please refer to the map or by contacting the Better Woodlands for Wales Technical Services team on telephone number 0845 604 0845.
Useful sites
