(1)For the purpose of assisting responsible authorities in their preparation of local nature recovery strategies, the Secretary of State must prepare and publish a national habitat map for England.
(2)The national habitat map must in particular identify—
(a)national conservation sites, and
(b)other areas that in the opinion of the Secretary of State are of particular importance for biodiversity.
(3)The Secretary of State may from time to time review and republish the national habitat map.
(4)The Secretary of State must inform a responsible authority of any area in the authority’s strategy area which falls within subsection (5).
(5)An area falls within this subsection if in the Secretary of State’s opinion—
(a)the area could be of greater importance for biodiversity, or is an area where the recovery or enhancement of biodiversity could make a contribution to other environmental benefits, and
(b)the area could contribute to the establishment of a network of areas across England for the recovery and enhancement of biodiversity in England as a whole.
(6)The Secretary of State must provide a responsible authority with any other information—
(a)that is held by the Secretary of State, and
(b)that the Secretary of State considers might assist the authority in preparing a local nature recovery strategy.
Commencement Information
I1S. 107 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 147(3)
I2S. 107 in force at 24.1.2022 by S.I. 2022/48, reg. 2(n)