Guidance and regulation

Annual confirmed sightings of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in the UK.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 31 May 2024

• Asian hornet sightings recorded since 2016

  This page will be updated with details of confirmed sightings. Sightings…

Planning practice guidance on biodiversity net gain. Biodiversity net gain is a way of creating and improving biodiversity by requiring development to have a positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity.

• From: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Updated: 1 May 2024

A guide to the types of development that will be exempt from the mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 2 April 2024

Tools and guides for measuring the biodiversity value of habitat for biodiversity net gain (BNG).

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 12 February 2024

Guidance on what BNG is and how it affects land managers, developers and local planning authorities.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 22 February 2024

How to identify, stop the spread and dispose of Japanese knotweed in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 2 others
• Updated: 17 February 2023

When and how to measure a habitat or development’s impact on biodiversity.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 27 February 2024

Check if your import, export or re-export needs a permit or certificate under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 5 April 2024

What you must do to avoid harming birds and when you’ll need a licence.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 29 March 2015

How to stop the spread and dispose of invasive non-native plants that can harm the environment in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 2 others
• Updated: 2 February 2022

The prices of statutory biodiversity credits from the date biodiversity net gain (BNG) becomes mandatory.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 12 February 2024

Get permission or a licence to trap crayfish, eels, elvers, salmon, sea trout, lamprey and smelt in England. How to apply and rules to follow.

• From: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and 2 others
• Updated: 13 January 2023

How to report dead wild birds.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 17 May 2024

How to apply to import, export or re-export endangered animal and plant species on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 1 July 2022

What you need to do if you keep, grow, find or sell certain invasive plant species and your responsibilities to prevent their spread.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 20 September 2022

What you need to do if you find, own or look after a listed invasive non-native (alien) animal in England and Wales.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 20 September 2022

What you need to do as a developer to meet biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 12 February 2024

When and how you need to register your item or apply for an exemption certificate to deal in ivory.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 26 July 2023

How to dispose of dead wild birds or ask for them to be removed.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 13 December 2022

List of priority habitats and species in England (‘Section 41 habitats and species’) for public bodies, landowners and funders to use for biodiversity conservation.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 10 November 2022