Environmental Law

Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) website gives access to documents and databases on biodiversity along with background information on the Convention and a copy of the text. The Convention is a major international agreement on the protection of wildlife. It is the first global, comprehensive agreement to address all aspects of biological diversity including genetic resources, species, and ecosystems. There is information on parties to the Convention, related bodies and programmes.

Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs

Homepage of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Information is provided on Defra, its organisation, aims and activities. The Department's remit covers the environment, agriculture, food and farming, rural communities, countryside, national parks, wildlife and pets. Each of these areas has a section of the website where information and documentation is provided including legislation. The site can be searched by keyword and a collection of links to other useful and related websites is available.

Planning Appeals Commission

Official website of the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) of Northern Ireland. This independent appeals body hears appeals made against planning decisions taken by a number of government departments including the Department of the Environment (DoE), Department for Regional Development (DRD), Department for Social Development (DSD), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM). The website gives full details of the functions of the PAC and information on how to appeal.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is a non-departmental body responsible for the protection of the environment in Scotland. SEPA is responsible for monitoring the quality of Scotland's air, land and water and acts as the country’s environmental regulator. The site has sections providing information and publications dealing with air quality, climate change, flooding, land, planning, water quality, radioactive substances and waste.

European Landscape Convention

The European Landscape Convention is a Council of Europe treaty for the protrection, management and planning of landscapes. It deals with all types of landscape, but also gives special emphasis to landscapes that determine the quality of people's living environment. The Convention was signed by 18 countries on 20 October 2000 in Florence. The full text of the Convention is available on the COE Conventions website, together with an Explanatory Report and status information. All information on CoE sites is available in English and French.

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats

The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (ETS no. 104), often referred to as the 'Bern Convention' seeks to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, particularly emphasising endangered and vulnerable species. The Convention was adopted in Bern on 19 September 1979 and came into force on 1 June 1982.

ASIL Electronic Resource Guide : International Environmental Law

A chapter of the American Society of International Law's online Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law, concerned with International Environmental law. This chapter has been written by Anne Burnett, Reference and Foreign and International Law Librarian Law Library, University of Georgia School of Law, USA. The author provides an overview of the subject and suggests general search strategies for conducting legal research into international economic law on the Internet.

IEMA

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) is a non-profit organisation which promotes best practice standards in environmental management, auditing and assessment. It is the UK competent body responsible for administering the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The site provides information on corporate membership, professional qualifications, certified training courses and regional activities. IEMA publications can be bought online.

ECOLEX

ECOLEX is an environmental law information service operated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It is partly funded by the Dutch government. The website provides a searchable database which combines the environmental law information held by all three bodies. This comprises multilateral treaties; national legislation; European Union instruments; international "soft law" and related documents; bibliographic details of law and policy literature; and judicial decisions.

Canadian Environmental Law Association

The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA consists of lawyers and researchers who have expertise in environmental law and policy and who campaign for better environmental law for Ontario and Canada. CELA's project areas cover access to justice, pollution and health, land use and water sustainability. There are online collections of materials focusing on particular subject areas including mining and renewable energy in Ontario. The site includes organisational information on CELA details of CELA's involvement in environmental litigation.

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