Guidance and regulation

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

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

How to assess a planning application when there are bats on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

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

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

How to assess a planning application when there are badgers on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

Register for a licence to survey bats using torches for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 6 March 2024

How to control rabbits on your property or business using traps, snares and other methods.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 6 April 2023

How to assess a planning application when there are otters on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are hazel (common) dormice on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are water voles on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 21 December 2022

Register as an ecological consultant to disturb or capture common bats, or damage or destroy low conservation status roosts; find out how to register a site and if you need to pay.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2023

Register for a licence to survey bats using your hand, artificial light, endoscopes and hand-held nets for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 6 March 2024

Register for a licence to take, disturb or possess hazel dormice to survey for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 22 March 2024

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

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

Register for a licence to displace water voles to allow work that could disturb them or damage their burrows and report your actions.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2024

How to manage Eurasian beavers on your land without a licence and when you need a licence in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 19 December 2023

Which chemicals you can use in or near a bat roost and what you need to know before you use them.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 25 February 2013

Find out what a volunteer bat roost visitor (VBRV) does and how to get trained and licenced to carry out bat roost visits.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 27 October 2023

Get a licence to trap edible dormice for health and safety and other purposes.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 21 February 2024