Guidance

Habitats and species of principal importance in England

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

Applies to England

Documents

Details

The list of habitats and species of principal importance in England includes 56 habitats and 943 species first identified as priority habitats and species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP).

The list is for:

  • public bodies – to help them meet their ‘biodiversity duty’ to be aware of biodiversity conservation in their policy or decision making
  • landowners – to inform their nature recovery planning, action and funding applications
  • funding bodies – to support suitable nature recovery

To find out more about priority habitats, view:

Publishing the list is a legal duty under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act.

Updates to this page

Published 8 September 2022
Last updated 10 November 2022 + show all updates
  1. Updated the list of habitats and species of principal importance in England.

  2. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page