This Manual contains, in a convenient reference volume, the sources of nature and countryside conservation law. This area of law covers a wide range including the protection of species, nature reserves, sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. Legal provisions relating to nature conservation extend to agriculture, forestry and the water industry and to areas such as environmental duties and organisations. The materials in the book include primary legislation, statutory instruments and policy guidance. Legislation such as the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 have been heavily amended. The text incorporates these amendments together with annotations providing cross-references to definitions, related primary legislation and statutory instruments, commencement dates and selected cases. It also includes the regulations made in respect of the EC Habitats Directive, the Planning Policy Guidance on nature conservation relating to England and the Scottish Office Circular on the implementation of the EC Birds and Habitats Directives. The arrangement of the Manual enables legal provisions to be located quickly without the need to search through several sources and will prove to be a practical guide to all those concerned with nature conservation.