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] Updated
- 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] Updated Sept 2010
- dormouse [PDF] Updated Sept 2010
- great crested newt [PDF] Updated Sept 2010
- otter [PDF] Updated Spet 2010
EPS Licence application forms and checklists are in our Reference library
- 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)
New
Dormouse Method Statement Template BWW WAG licence 032010 read only.doc
This document accompanies the Welsh Assembly Government Application for a European Protected Species licence – Forestry or Woodland Operations. It is designed to help forest and woodland owners / managers supply the information required as part of the licence application, and to provide guidance on reasonable techniques to minimise disturbance to dormice.
Advice and Demonstration
For any queries in relation to European Protected Species legislation and its inter relationship with forestry or woodland operations telephone the Grants and Regulations team on 0300 068 0300.
Useful sites
- Welsh Assembly Government – Habitats Directive
- Countryside Council for Wales
Any comments please contact Chris Tucker
