18.—(1) Where the Department is satisfied that any land which—
(a)is being managed as a nature reserve under an agreement entered into with the Department;
(b)is held by the Department and is being managed by it as a nature reserve; or
(c)is held by an approved body and is managed by that body as a nature reserve,
is of national importance, the Department may declare that land to be a national nature reserve.
(2) Paragraphs (2) to (4) of Article 16 shall apply in relation to a declaration under paragraph (1) as they apply to a declaration under paragraph (1) of that Article.
(3) In this Article “approved body” means a body approved by the Department for the purposes of this Article.