Agri-environment schemes – Schemes set up to pay farmers to undertake positive management of the countryside to benefit wildlife.
AONB – Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Main purpose is to conserve and enhance natural beauty, taking into account the need of agriculture, forestry and other rural industries.
BAP – Biodiversity Action Plan
Biodiversity – The variety of all life on earth. Maintaining biodiversity is seen as being key to providing for the needs of future generations.
DEFRA – Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DETR – Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions – The government department with primary responsibility for nature conservation.
EA – Environment Agency
ELF – Environmental Law Foundation – provides free advice, assistance for the initial consultation, identification of the client’s needs, information about how the law helps and options for action.
ESA – Environmentally Sensitive Area – agri-environment scheme aimed at promoting traditional farming practices. Operates in a number of designated areas. Farmers and land-owners can voluntarily enter into 10 year agreements to manage their land in order to maintain and restore specific landscapes and habitats.
FC – Forestry Commission – the Government department responsible for promoting the interests of forests, the development of afforestation and the production and supply of timber and other forest products in Great Britain.
FoE – Friends of the Earth (UK) – The voluntary organisation which campaigns on a wide variety of environmental issues.
GIS or GI Strategy – Green Infrastructure Strategy.
LA – Local Authority.
Local Agenda 21 – A global environmental agenda for the 21st century which depends on action at a local level.
LNR – Local Nature Reserve – designated by local authorities.
MUGA – Multi-Use Games Area
Natura 2000 Network – Europe wide network of SPA’s and SAC’s.
NGO – Non Governmental Organisation – A group, charity or agency which is independent of government.
NNR – National Nature Reserve – A reserve managed either by one of the statutory bodies, ie English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales, Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland) or an approved body such as the RSPB. Represent the very best examples of wildlife habitats and geological features.
Non-Statutory Nature Reserves – owned or managed by public or private bodies such as the RSPB.
Phase 1 Habitat – The basic baseline survey which council’s undertake, to support their planning processes.
Phenology – the science dealing with the influence of climate on the recurrence of such annual phenomena of animal and plant life as budding and bird migrations.
Ramsar – Important wetlands listed by the UK Government under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance for Conservation (1971).
Red Data Book – contains lists of rare, vulnerable, endangered or extinct species of animals and plants.
Set Aside – Arable land compulsorily taken out of production. The amount varies annually and creates excellent feeding and nesting opportunities for many species, particularly skylarks.
SAC – Special Area of Conservation – Sites designated by the UK government under EU legislation for the conservation of natural habitats, wild flora and fauna of European importance.
SPA – Special Protection Areas – site designed by the UK Government under EU legislation for the conservation of wild birds and their habitats.
SSBI – Site of Special Biological Interest –
SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest – An area of land notified under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) in England, Scotland and Wales, as being of special nature conservation interest.
SWOT Analysis – Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis.
TCV – The Conservation Volunteers. New name for BTCV.
Wildlife Trusts – voluntary organisation set up to protect and enhance wildlife habitats, common and rare, with a strong national and local voice.
WWF-UK – World Wide Fund for Nature UK – Voluntary organisation devoted to the care and protection of the natural living world.