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UK Wildlife Law

UK Wildlife Law: an Introduction 100 Hours Certificate Course

Course Code:

ADL044 CLD

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Learn About UK Wildlife Law

UK Wildlife Law Online Course

Great for farmers, conservationist and other roles, the goal of this course is to equip the student with a firm understanding of the essential UK wildlife law that they may need to be aware of.

There’s a real interest among those in Britain who work with wildlife, either professionally or voluntarily, for a better understanding of the myriad laws in the country that govern the interaction between man and his environment on these Islands.

That’s why ADL is proud to announce a new short course “UK Wildlife Law: An Introduction”.

By popular demand, this course is the ideal introduction for anyone involved in the British countryside and the huge variety of wildlife that calls it home.

Global Decision, Local Consequences
Across the world, Wildlife Law has generally followed four key themes that have worked their way into the statute books of countries across the world, and the UK is no different. These being the control of pests, the exploitation of animals, animal welfare and environmental conservation.

The course begins with an introduction to the international wildlife treaties to which the UK is a signatory and obliged to abide by. For example, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling is a huge international treaty best known for banning Whale hunting with a few notable exceptions. But it wasn’t until 1986, to protect dwindling whale numbers, that the moratorium we know today came into force.

From the global level, the course moves onto the EU level, where many modern laws and directives regarding change in modern Britain originate (and wildlife legislation is no different). From here, the course reaches the national level focusing on UK specific laws that govern the interaction with wildlife and how it practically impacts on life in Britain today.

Why Wildlife Law matters
In Britain, the native environment and species of the island country remain a national treasure even today. Despite the industrial revolution of centuries ago, the country remains a country with a unique ecosystem that’s worth protecting . And even for those who may not care themselves, the relevant laws in force must still be abided by.

If you work with the countryside, in conservation or are simply looking to add an extension to your house, it’s valuable to have an understanding of how the presence of wildlife on the land can impact your plans and how you must work around it.

UK Wildlife Law: an Introduction 100 Hours Certificate Course - ADL - Academy for Distance Learning

Lessons

Lesson Structure: UK Wildlife Law

There are 5 lessons:

1 – International Wildlife Law

Introduction – Why are Wildlife Laws Made?
International Treaty laws
The international Conventions for the regulation of Whaling (1946)
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1971)
The Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973)
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1979)
The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979)

2 – The European Union Directives

The EU Directives
The Birds Directive (2009/147/EC)
The Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC)

3 – The Two Main National Laws

Natural Law
The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)
The Basic Protection
Derogation
Additional Protection
Scheduled Species
Species with Extra Protection
Game Species and Pests
Bird-Keeping and Selling
Species which cannot be released
The Conservation of Habitats and Species regulations (2010)
European Protected Species
Additional Protect

4 – Minor National Wildlife Laws

The two main National Laws vs the Minor National Wildlife Laws
The Pest Act (1954)
The Spring Traps Approval Orders (2011-2)
The 19th Century Games Act and Poaching Act
The Dear Act (1991)
The Conservation of Seals Act (1970) and the marine Scotland Act (2010)
The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975)
The Hunting Act (2004) and the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act (2002)
The Protection of Animals Act 1911
Animal Welfare Act (2006)
The Wild Mammals Protection Act (1996)
The Protection of Badgers Act, (1992)

5 – Wildlife Law in Practice

Local authorities and enforcement licenses
Is the license system biased
Pest Control to prevent damage to property
Promoting sustainable use
Welfare
Protecting biodiversity
Wildlife law as a compromise

Learning Goals

Discuss the context and history of wildlife law world-wide.
List a few of the accomplishments of wildlife law over the last century.
Explain at least three major international treaties which the United Kingdom has ratified.
Describe the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitats Directive.
Explain why these laws are important in the UK.
Find the protection status of any rare European wildlife species.
Describe the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010).
Explain the importance of these laws Quickly find out whether a species is scheduled, and if so, what protection it has been given.
Identify when a scenario is likely to be covered by a minor national law.
Describe additional legislation covering game and pest species, seals, deer, badgers and freshwater fish.
Put your understanding of the laws in context.
Identify who is responsible for enforcing the laws, and who has the power to grant licenses to break them.
Evaluate how well the laws are working, and contribute to debates about their future.

Practical (Set Tasks)

Examinations

More Information

Aims of the Course: What you will do

Discuss the context and history of wildlife law world-wide.
List a few of the accomplishments of wildlife law over the last century.
Explain at least three major international treaties which the United Kingdom has ratified.
Describe the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitats Directive.
Explain why these laws are important in the UK.
Find the protection status of any rare European wildlife species.
Describe the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010).
Explain the importance of these laws
Quickly find out whether a species is scheduled, and if so, what protection it has been given.
Identify when a scenario is likely to be covered by a minor national law.
Describe additional legislation covering game and pest species, seals, deer, badgers and freshwater fish.
Put your understanding of the laws in context
Identify who is responsible for enforcing the laws, and who has the power to grant licenses to break them.
Evaluate how well the laws are working, and contribute to debates about their future.

Why are Wildlife Laws Made?

Throughout this module we will study all of the major legislation which affects UK wildlife. This lesson in particular focuses on the major international wildlife law the UK has ratified. Before we can look at these however, we need to have some background. Why do we make laws about wildlife?

The Law Commission¹ has identified four major themes in UK Wildlife law. The two oldest reasons for making laws treat wildlife as an economic asset which needs to be exploited or protected from exploitation for the interests of the wealthy ruling class:

To control pest species.
For example, early historians like Raphael Holinshed claimed that King Egbert of England demanded a tribute of 300 wolf skins each year from the Welsh borders to help eradicate the animals. Whether this claim is true or not, landowners were often required to eliminate wolves wherever they could be found, and laws like this probably led to the extinction of wolves in the United Kingdom.

This kind of law would not be passed today, but the United Kingdom still classes some species as pests. In Lesson 4 we will look at the English Pests Act (1954) which is seldom enforced but technically requires every landowner to ‘control’ (exterminate) rabbits on their land.

To encourage sustainable exploitation.
You probably know that swans belong to the crown in the United Kingdom. They, along with beached ‘royal fish’ (whales, dolphins, porpoises, sturgeon and sharks), have been protected since the medieval period. The birds are so fearless that if they were not protected they might have all been eaten. By giving the birds crown protection, the birds were left alone and could be protected for the consumption of the ruling class alone in perpetuity

This is also why today deer, seal (in some parts of the country), salmon and trout are all given closed seasons when they are protected from capture. More recently, laws have been made which value wildlife for non-economic reasons.

For animal-welfare reasons.
3. In the United Kingdom in particular, several laws have been prompted by charities and individuals wanting to make sure animals are treated kindly. Wild Mammals are especially protected in the UK under the Wild Mammals (protection) Act (1996). Hunting with dogs was made illegal in the United Kingdom by the Hunting Act (2004). We will look at this legislation in Lesson 4.

To some extent, these reasons for protection can contradict each other. Although some species damage human economic interests and therefore should be controlled, they should not be mistreated for animal-welfare reasons. Sometimes, in order to conserve one threatened species, others must be controlled (exterminated). For example, in Britain, the common grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) must be controlled (exterminated) in some areas to conserve the declining red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

The important thing to remember here is that Wildlife Law offers a compromise between the interests of every group which deals with wildlife. No single group of people
is completely happy with the law, but every group can use it.

International Treaty Laws: Introduction

Although this module looks mainly at wildlife law in the United Kingdom, we can’t just focus on laws made in this country. The United Kingdom has ratified (signed and made official) several international treaty-laws which affect people living in this country. There are a few reasons that the United Kingdom does this:

Animals and birds often do not obey national borders. In order to protect them we need international laws.
Wildlife crime is now an international problem. For example, parts of certain animals like tigers, elephants and rhinos are killed in their home countries in order that they can be sold far away. The United Kingdom needs to have laws making this illegal in order to help protect these species, even though they are not native.
Uniformity helps make wildlife law fairer and easier. If every country had different laws it would make protecting wildlife very difficult. In addition, wildlife laws always involve a concession of rights, so they can sometimes actually hurt a country’s economy and culture. If laws are international and uniform, the idea is that the countries with the richest biodiversity are not unfairly affected. In practice this is not always the case.

The rest of Lesson 1 will look at the major international wildlife laws which have been ratified by the United Kingdom.

The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (1946)

The first treaty-law we will look at has been a major success story. It is usually referred to simply as the Whaling Convention (1946) and it was written in a major crisis period. At the time, large whales were becoming very rare globally due to the over-exploitation of commercial whalers (whale-catchers). Whaling had moved from ocean to ocean and from species to species, finding a new site or species when older ones had become depleted. The effects of that are still being seen today. The earliest targeted species of whale, the right whale (Eubalena glacialis) and the grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) remain extinct in the East Atlantic (around Europe) although the right whale is occasionally seen in the West Atlantic. The treaty recognised that the industry was destined to collapse, and aimed to make the whaling industry sustainable, so that whaling could continue to be carried out by future generations.

The treaty is defined by a series of Articles. After defining a series of key terms, the treaty:

Article 3 & 4: Creates the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to research whales.

Article 5 & 6: Gives the IWC the power to regulate whaling and give recommendations to countries.

Article 7: Requires governments to provide information to the IWC.

Article 8: Allows countries to take whales for scientific research;

Article 9: Requires countries to enforce the treaty, and expressly forbade whale-catching scientists from being paid extra.

The IWC is responsible for enforcing closed-seasons, commercial catch limits and permitted catch methods in a Schedule for the Treaty.
In 1985 (in Antarctica) and 1986 everywhere else, the quota for commercial whaling each year was voluntarily set to 0 by the IWC. This was called the ‘Moratorium on Whaling’.
The Commission felt that any commercial whaling at all would be dangerous for species stocks. Three countries lodged “reservations” about this quota.
At time of writing (2015) the quota remains at 0 for all species covered (baleen and toothed whales). It does not cover dolphins or porpoises.

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1971)

This convention is usually referred to as Ramsar (1971) after the town in Iran where the treaty was signed. It was prompted by the continued drainage of wetland areas which was taking place to allow agricultural and industrial development of land. The loss of this habitat was significantly affecting populations of waterbirds and so the treaty aimed to protect important habitats.

A site should be nominated as a Ramsar Wetland if it (1) contains a rare habitat site; (2) contains vulnerable or endangered species, supports species important for biodiversity or supports plant or animal species at a critical stage of their life cycles; (3) regularly supports 20,000 waterbirds or 1% of a total species or subspecies of wetland-dependant species (not just birds) or (4) contains internationally important stocks of indigenous fish species or subspecies. Sites beneath these levels may still be eligible, but all above this level should be nominated.

The treaty required each party country to:

Article 2: Identify important wetlands.

Article 3: work towards their “wise” (sustainable and informed) use and co-operate to conserve wetlands and species.

Article 4: establish nature reserves on wetlands for research and conservation, provide for their wardening, and compensate any sites lost.

Article 5-7: confer with others about plans in an expert conference every three years. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is currently the bureau in charge of administrating this convention.

As of 2015, the United Kingdom has nominated 168 Ramsar sites, and made them all Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSIs), or Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) in Northern Ireland.

1 Law Commission (2012) Wildlife Law: A Consultation Paper. Consultation Papers 206. Crown Copyright. pp.2-3.

Assessment

Assessment is based on a combination of completing all assignments and sitting for a final short one and a half hour exam, in your own location.

If you don’t cope well with exams then you may elect to undertake a project instead. This is a popular option.

In addition, most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson placed before the assignment. This is an opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge and skills and practical experience. This ADL feature is an added bonus not found at most online schools. Set Tasks are not required for assessment.

Some courses also have optional Self-Tests which are available on our online learning platform. These are not available by correspondence or by USB, and do not form part of your overall grade.

How our courses work

Choose Your Learning Method
You choose how you would like to receive your course material, i.e., Online, USB or Correspondence. The choice is yours. You may also work on online or offline.
Tutor Allocation
Every student is assigned their own dedicated tutor who is an expert in their subject area. They provide as much or as little individual contact as you require. You can contact your tutor whenever you need – your hours are not limited.
Feedback and Assignments
Tutor Feedback is an essential component in helping you understand the subject matter. Tutor feedback is given in the form of notes written on the assignment. We encourage you to contact your Tutor where help with clarification and understanding of course material may be required.

Your assignments are located at the end of each lesson. You submit them for marking whenever you are ready. There is no time limit.
Set Tasks and Self-Tests
Most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson before for the assignment. This is where you get the opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge, skills and practical experience. Many modules also have short Self-Tests.
Exams
Once all assignments have been completed you may then elect to sit for a one and half hour exam in your own location. If you prefer not to take the exam you do have the option to undertake a project instead.
Once the exam or project part of the course is completed, your Certificate is then processed. Please allow approximately 4 weeks for this.
Design Your Own Qualification
ADL offers students the flexibility to self-design their own qualification – bundling together a combination of 100-hour modules into a qualification higher than a certificate.

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.

Career Options

What's Included

What your tuition fees include

All Course Material via Online, USB or Correspondence
Assignments Marked
Professional Tutor Feedback
Set Tasks - Practical Exercises to help you develop skills
Self-Tests – multiple choice questions at the end of lessons in most modules
Unlimited Personal Tutor Support – via our student classroom
Committed and Friendly Admin Support – vital to your success
All ADL Exam or Project fees (exception RHS exams)
Qualification Certificate
Official Transcript with assignment grades
Student Manual

Plus FREE

There are no hidden extras

Career Opportunities

FAQ - RHS Theory Qualifications

GENERAL

If you require further details about any of the RHS industry recognised qualifications please, call one of our friendly RHS Course Advisors on +44 (0)1227 789 649 or email: [email protected]

Q: When can I Enrol/Start My RHS Course With ADL?
A: Anytime, Anywhere. There are no enrolment deadlines.

Q: I live Overseas. Can I Study From Overseas?
A: You can study any of the RHS theory qualifications overseas. All courses are offered in English. You will need to email RHS Qualifications direct to arrange sitting for your examination overseas.

Q: Is There a Time Limit for Completing an RHS Qualification?
A: At present there are no time limits. However, RHS is contemplating in the future, the introduction of course time-lines.

Q: Are There Any Entry Requirements (Pre-Requisites)?
A: The RHS Theory courses do not require prerequisites, previous experience or any knowledge of horticulture. You just need passion for all things horticulture.

Q: What Course Should I Start With First? I Am New To RHS Qualifications.
A: We highly recommend that you start with Level 2 – Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance.

Q: What Does ADL Course Material Include?
A: Includes Power Point Presentations, Videos and written course lessons.

RHS EXAMS

Q: When Do Exams Take Place?
A: Exams are held on fixed dates in February and June of each year. You should register as a candidate at least 3 months before these dates, so please do not leave exam registration to the last minute

Q: Where Do I Take My Exams?
A: UK: You take the exams at the RHS Wisley Centre, located between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey or at other authorised RHS centres around the UK.
Overseas: please email RHS qualifications direct for centre information.

Q: Exam Pass Marks?
A: Module – pass 50%. Commendation 70%.

Qualification: 50% pass for all modules.
Commendation awarded for all modules.
Each question carries a value of 10 marks.

Q: I’m Not Happy With My Exam Results?
A: You have the opportunity to re-sit your exam at the next opportunity.

There are no restrictions on the number of re-sits you can take. The highest mark you achieve will remain.,

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Call us: +44 (0)1227 789 649 - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

UK Wildlife Law

UK Wildlife Law: an Introduction 100 Hours Certificate Course

Enrolling Made Simple

From £295

Contact us

Learn About UK Wildlife Law

UK Wildlife Law Online Course

Great for farmers, conservationist and other roles, the goal of this course is to equip the student with a firm understanding of the essential UK wildlife law that they may need to be aware of.

Course Information

Other Categories

DESIGN YOUR OWN COURSE

DESIGN YOUR OWN COURSE

Lessons

Lesson Structure: UK Wildlife Law

Learning Goals

Practical (Set Tasks)

Examinations

More Information

Aims of the Course: What you will do

Assessment

How our courses work

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Enrolment

Assessment

Qualifications

Tutors

Career Options

What's Included

What your tuition fees include

Plus FREE

There are no hidden extras

Career Opportunities

FAQ - RHS Theory Qualifications

GENERAL

RHS EXAMS

DESIGN YOUR OWN COURSE

DESIGN YOUR OWN COURSE

Academic

General

Financials

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