Check if you need a wildlife licence during forest operations
You will need to consider biodiversity and any protected species if you are:
- felling trees in a woodland or forest
- creating or managing a woodland or forest
We can help you take the steps needed to keep within the law and support you to apply for any licences you need.
We have produced guidance that explains our approach to protecting species when we regulate forest operations.
If you are planning on cutting down trees you may also need to apply for a felling licence.
Protecting wild birds
The law protects all wild birds, their active nests, and their eggs from intentional harm. You must plan your forest operations so as not to cause avoidable harm to wild birds. It may be an offence if you intentionally:
- kill, injure or take any wild bird
- take, damage, or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst that nest is in use or being built
- take or destroy an egg of any wild bird
- possess any live or dead wild bird or the egg of any wild bird, or any part of a live or dead bird
Some birds, listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, have additional protection. For these birds it is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly:
- disturb them whilst they are building their nests, are in or near nests containing eggs or chicks, or
- disturb their dependent young.
Additionally, because they tend to reuse the same nests, the nests of Ospreys, White-Tailed Eagles and Golden Eagles are legally protected all year-round, even when not in use.
Forestry or woodland operations can harm wild birds, especially during the nesting season. It is important to know which protected birds are likely to be using your woodland so you can take steps to protect them.
Some bird species may be more sensitive to disturbance than others, or at different times of year. Applying the appropriate buffer distances from bird nests during sensitive periods is an important way to avoid unnecessary harm and may help you avoid breaking the law.
Check the buffer zones for each wild bird.
Protecting animals
Some animal species also have legal protection. If you are carrying out work which could affect protected animals, or the places they use to rest or breed, you will need to ensure you can keep within the law.
In most cases you will need to follow good practice to avoid committing offences. However, in some cases, as a last resort, if you cannot avoid harming European Protected Species or damaging their habitats, you may be able to apply for a protected species licence that would enable you to proceed lawfully.
We have produced Good Practice Guides to help you plan your work and keep within the law when carrying out woodland management in the presence of the following species:
Protecting rare plants
Some plant species are protected by law. Plants that are European Protected Species have additional protections. These are:
- Fen Orchid
- Floating Water-plantain
- Killarney Fern
- Shore Dock
If you are carrying out any forestry or woodland operations, you should check for the presence of protected plants and take reasonable measures to avoid harming them, especially the species listed above.
Species licences for forestry or woodland management
In most cases, you should aim to manage your forest operation so you can avoid harming protected species in a way that would cause an offence.
However, as a last resort, if you cannot avoid harming European Protected Species or damaging or destroying their breeding sites or resting places, you may be able to apply for species licence that will allow you to work lawfully.
Apply for a forestry or woodland management licence
Contact us
You can contact us for help at any time before or during your licence application.