Nature conservation
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on nature conservation. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 08.11.2012 | The Forestry Commission and the sale of public forests in England |
| This note sets out information on the sale of public forests managed by the Forestry Commission | |
| 18.07.2012 | Antarctica: the treaty system and territorial claims |
| The unique treaty system that protects the Antarctic is constantly updated and sometimes challenged. A current Private Member's Bill would implement recent changes in the UK. | |
| 23.11.2011 | Marine Conservation Zones |
| This note describes the new powers to designate Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in UK waters, which were introduced under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. MCZs will be used to protect nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and geomorphology. | |
| 01.07.2010 | Marine litter: 'continents' of rubbish |
| A large amount of plastic is accumulating in large areas of the sea. These areas have been dubbed 'great garbage patches' or 'plastic continents'. The long term environmental impacts of marine plastic pollution are unknown. There are concerns that it may lead to chemical contaminants entering the food chain, although more research is required. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 19.07.2009 | Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]: Committee Stage Report. Bill 137 2008-09. |
| The Bill would set up a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO); streamline marine licensing; introduce marine planning; reform fisheries management; provide for Marine Conservation Zones; and enable the creation of a route around the English coast. | |
| 16.06.2009 | Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL] |
| The Bill covers a broad range of marine issues and would: (1) set up a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) under which many of the existing, diverse areas of marine regulation would be centralised; (2) streamline the existing marine licensing system and provide powers to create a joined up marine planning policy; (3) introduce new measures to reform fisheries management; (4) provide a framework for establishing marine conservation zones; and, (5) enable the creation of a route around the English coast. | |
| 02.06.2005 | Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill (Bill 3 2005-06) |
| Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill (Bill 3 2005-06). House of Commons Library Research Paper 05/39 | |
| 10.10.2002 | Sustainable development and the 2002 World Summit |
| Sustainable development and the 2002 World Summit. House of Commons Library Research Paper 02/55. | |
| 17.03.2000 | Countryside and Rights of Way Bill (Bill 78 of 1999/2000) |
| Countryside and Rights of Way Bill (Bill 78 of 1999/2000). House of Commons Library Research Paper 00/31. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 27.10.2009 | Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation: No hope without forests. |
| Government response. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Environmental Audit Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 16.06.2009 | Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation: No hope without forests. |
| Environmental Audit Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 10.02.2009 | Halting biodiversity loss. |
| Government response. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Environmental Audit Select Committee report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 16.02.2011 | TRADE OF ILLEGAL IVORY |
| That this House is concerned that despite the world wide ban on the sale of ivory, there is recent evidence of an increase in demand for illegal ivory; recognises the commendable progress ... | |
| 15.12.2010 | SCALLOP DREDGING |
| That this House notes with concern the impact which scallop dredging is having on the marine environment; further notes that this practice has only started in recent decades and effectively ... | |
| 09.11.2010 | UK LANDSCAPE AWARD 2010 FOR EAST DURHAM HERITAGE COAST |
| That this House congratulates East Durham Heritage Coast on its extraordinary achievement in winning the UK Landscape Award 2010; recognises the amazing work of transforming a previous ... | |
| 16.09.2010 | JAPANESE WHALE AND DOLPHIN HUNTING |
| That this House is deeply concerned that the Japanese Government issues quotas for the slaughter of over 18,000 dolphins, porpoises and other whales in coastal waters each year despite ... | |
| 14.09.2010 | BBC |
| That this House believes that the BBC is the world's best and most impartial broadcaster; and opposes any attempt to remove or reduce the licence fee. |
POST Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 15.05.2012 | Bioenergy |
| Bioenergy is the use of renewable natural material for power, heat and liquid fuels. Currently, the UK sources approximately 3% of its primary energy from bioenergy feedstocks. This POSTnote considers the opportunities and challenges of producing bioenergy sustainably to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. | |
| 01.06.2011 | Evidence-based conservation, June 2011 |
| This POSTnote summaries the benefits of, and issues surrounding, an evidence-based approach to conservation management. | |
| 01.05.2011 | Natural capital accounting, May 2011 |
| This POSTnote outlines the need for "environmental accounting" by governments, to maintain the capacity of ecosystems to sustain human well-being at acceptable levels. | |
| 01.05.2011 | The ecosystem approach, May 2011 |
| This POSTnote outlines how the ecostystem approach makes explicit the link between the status of natural resource systems and ecosystem services that support human well-being. | |
| 01.04.2008 | Invasive non-native species, April 2008 |
| Invasive non-native species, April 2008. POSTnote 08/303 | |
| 01.02.2008 | Ecological networks, February 2008 |
| Ecological networks, February 2008. POSTnote 08/300. |
