Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006

Joint Nature Conservation Committee etc.

31 Joint Nature Conservation Committee

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee—

(a) is to continue in existence, but

(b) is to be re-constituted in accordance with Schedule 4.

32 UK conservation bodies

(1) In this Part “the UK conservation bodies” means—

(a) for England, Natural England;

(b) for Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales;

(c) for Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage;

(d) for Northern Ireland, the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside.

(2) In this Part “the GB conservation bodies” means the bodies mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (c).

33 Purpose of functions under this Part

(1) The UK conservation bodies and the joint committee have the functions conferred on them by this Part for the purposes of—

(a) nature conservation, and

(b) fostering the understanding of nature conservation.

(2) Each of them must, in discharging their functions under this Part, have regard to—

(a) actual or possible ecological changes, and

(b) the desirability of contributing to sustainable development.