Contacts

The Directorate sponsors the following Non-Departmental Public Bodies:

• English Nature
• Joint Nature Conservation Committee

Countryside (Recreation and Landscape) Division

Countryside Division (CYD) is based at Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EB. For specific queries, please see the contact details and email addresses listed below. Its responsibilities are as follows:

Landscape protection branch

• promotes landscape conservation and enhancement, including policy for England’s protected landscape areas the National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs); the development of improved arrangements for the future management and funding of AONBs; and possible new arrangements for the New Forest, the South Downs and the Forest of Dean;
• co-ordinates and progresses UK action on the European Landscape Convention.

Email: nationalparks.aonbs@defra.gov.uk
Telephone: National Parks queries 18002 0117 372 8234 (via typetalk)
AONB queries 0117 372 6288
Fax: 0117 372 8250

Access to open countryside

• is responsible for implementing the new right of access to open country and registered common land in Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, including the preparation of regulations on: the mapping of access land; the establishment of local access forums; the administration of the Act’s provisions for restrictions on and exclusions of access; and the dedication of other land as access land

Email: access@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: queries on access to open countryside 0117 372 8204
Fax: 0117 372 8250

Common land branch

• provides policy advice on existing common land and village greens legislation. The development of new policy initiatives is undertaken by the Common land legislation branch, CYD6;
• decides applications to undertake certain works or to exchange land on commons and village greens;
• provides administrative support to the Commons Commissioners .

Email: commons.villagegreens@defra.gsi.gov.uk
commons.commissioners@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: policy queries 0117 372 8006
case work queries and Commons Commissioners 0117 372 8928
Fax: 0117 372 8969

Countryside recreation branch

• is responsible for financial sponsorship of the 7 English National Parks and the Broads Authority to ensure value for money and the delivery of the Government's objectives;
• administers camping and touring Caravan Exemption Certificates and Camping Exemption Certificates;
• administers Commons, Country Park and National Park bylaws
• promotes informal recreation;

Email: country.recreation@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: Policy queries 0117 372 8003
Fax: 0117 372 6215

Rights of way branch

• is taking forward implementation of the rights of way provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; Implementation of Part II of the Act. Projected timetable in England for Main Provision.
• develops, implements and advises on rights of way policy;
• deals with the processing and confirmation of National Trail variation orders and rail crossing orders;
• is the focal point for disabled access issues, Best Value in rights of way work and the CYD service level agreement with the Government Offices for the Regions.

Email: rights.ofway@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0117 372 6274

Common land legislation branch

Developing proposals for legislation on common land and town and village greens, including

• registration issues associated with common land and town and village greens;
  
• works and fencing on common land;
  
• agricultural management and use of common land

Existing policy and casework on these issues are dealt with by Common land branch, CYD3
Email: hugh.craddock@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: policy queries 020 7238 5663
Fax: 020 7238 5865

European Wildlife Division

European Wildlife Division (EWD) is based in Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EB. For specific queries, please see the contact details and email addresses listed below.

Natura 2000 Branch

• is responsible for co-ordinating full and effective implementation in the UK of Natura 2000 (the EU network of wildlife conservation areas deriving from the Birds and Habitats Directives) with particular responsibility for delivering implementation in England.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8221
Fax number: 0117 372 8119
General email enquiries: natura.2000@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Habitat Conservation and RAMSAR Branch

• is responsible for administering and developing policy for habitat conservation, especially associated with the network of SSSIs and National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and the provisions of the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8767
Fax number: 0117 372 8119
General email enquiries: ramsar@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Species Conservation and Marine Team

• is responsible for implementing the wildlife protection provisions of relevant European Union Directives, plus other relevant international agreements and conventions, by means of domestic legislation for the protection of species. It is also responsible for marine species conservation.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8903
Fax number: 0117 372 8182
General email enquiries: species@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Sponsorship and Procurement Branch

• is responsible for providing effective sponsorship to English Nature and the Joint Nature Conservation Council;
• administers the countryside research programme to deliver value for money and assist in the achievement of WCFM policy objectives.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8862
Fax number: 0117 372 8642
General email enquiries: wacd.research@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Wildlife and Countryside Science Unit

• is responsible for providing scientific advice to the Wildlife and Countryside Directorate on all aspects of policy development, ensuring that procedures anticipate as early as possible those issues which scientific advice or research will be needed.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8523
Fax number: 0117 372 8508
General email enquiries: martin.willcox@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Biodiversity Policy Unit

• is responsible for co-ordinating implementation of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, especially in England, and to progress the Government's European Biodiversity commitments.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8974
Fax number: 0117 372 8508
General email enquiries: biodiversity.defra@gtnet.gov.uk

Wildlife Management Branch

• is responsible for policy advice on vertebrate pest control; welfare and conservation of deer, seals and badgers in England; game licensing in Great Britain.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8746
Fax number: 0117 372 8182
General email enquiries: nick.xylas@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Global Wildlife Division

Global Wildlife Division (GWD) is based in Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EB. For specific queries, please see the contact details and email addresses listed below.

CITES Policy Branch

• develops policies for the global conservation and sustainable, humane use of wild animals and plants, particularly through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the EU CITES Regulations;

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8503
Fax number: 0117 372 8373
General email enquiries: cites.ukma@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Wildlife Crime and Inspectorate Unit

• develops policy on wildlife crime, delivers an effective service for the enforcement of the wildlife crime laws; is secretariat to the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) and manages the panel of part time Wildlife Inspectors

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8551
Fax number: 0117 372 8393
Wildlife Inspectorate enquiries: wildlife.inspectorate@defra.gsi.gov.uk
PAW Secretariat enquiries: paw.secretariat@defra.gsi.gov.uk
General email enquiries: wildlife.enforce@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Wildlife Licensing, Enforcement and Information Systems Branch

• provides a UK wildlife licensing service on trade in endangered (CITES) species as well as a bird registration service for England, Scotland and Wales.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8749
Fax number: 0117 372 8206
General email enquiries: wildlife.licensing@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Zoos and International Species Conservation Branch

• develops policies for the regulation of zoos and dangerous wild animals through national legislation and the EU Zoos Directive 1999; and by sponsoring the Zoos Forum. Further contact information is available.

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8209
Fax number: 0117 372 8373
General email enquiries: TomG.Adams@defra.gsi.gov.uk

• develops UK policy in respect of the (Bonn) Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals , acts as focal point for the UK membership of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and UNEP-WCMC.

Further contact information for the Zoos and International Species Conservation

General telephone enquiries: 0117 372 8898
Fax number: 0117 372 8317
General email enquiries: vickie.whitehead@defra.gsi.gov.uk