Understand protected species and your obligations around them
Our Site Managers hold a variety of protected species licenses, including for great crested newts (GCN), white-clawed crayfish (WCC) and bats. But what does this mean? Which species are classified as protected and what do businesses and organisations need to know to continue operations, confident in their compliance with protected species legislation? Here you will find information to help understand protected species and your obligations around them.
News & insights
Which species are protected?
31st March 2025
We look briefly at the laws protecting certain species, what protection means for project managers, and why it’s an important conservation strategy.
We’re working with Network Rail to protect great crested newts
13th October 2021
Great Crested Newts are in decline and are listed as a European Protected Species.
Trail Camera Chronicles: Witnessing Scotland’s rare wildlife
21st July 2023
The Ecus Scotland team are fortunate enough to work with rare mammal species, and regularly conduct surveys for red squirrels, pine martens and Eurasian beavers.
We’re working with Sheffield City Council to protect bats as 5000 homes are re-roofed
7th July 2022
The project has been highly commended by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
District Level Licensing explained
17th January 2022
District Level Licensing for Great Crested Newts can be complex. Stuart Ireland, Head of Ecology, blogs here about what it means for developers.
Survey and Mitigation Calendars
Ecology is seasonal. Great crested newts (GCNs), bats, badgers, and breeding birds, for example, all have specific periods in which the baseline must be established, known as the ‘survey window’. Missing a particular survey window can cause up to a year’s delay.
A site with protected species, such as active badger setts or dormice, may require multiple surveys and licenses, some only available during specific times of the year.
For instance, a developer may wish to submit for planning in 6–12 months but miss the spring GCN and breeding bird survey windows in the first year. They could be looking at another full calendar cycle of delays.
Contact our experts
Contact our team for expert assistance with all your protected species needs. We’re here to answer any questions and provide solutions tailored to your requirements.
