Book excerpt: Today construction industry is being asked more and more to protect the quality of the countryside and to help enhance our natural environment. The industry is subject to a complex and wide-ranging regulatory framework; it now needs to understand its responsibilities and take them seriously. Paul Rees provides here an authoritative guide, outlining wildlife and nature conservation law in the UK - including our European and international commitments, and giving clear explanations to a potentially costly area of law in a style accessible to the non-legal market. This comprehensive manual offers information and guidance for building surveyors, environmental managers, engineers and planners on: the legal and planning issues around biodiversity, nature conservation and construction how ecosystems work and why certain species and habitats need protection where to go for the relevant legislation and appropriate organisations for help and advice. UK and European case law demonstrates how the law has functioned in particular instances, and case studies illustrate how companies have adapted to fulfil their legal obligations. These are key features of the book and provide information on important legal precedents as well as demonstrating current industry best practice.