CHANGES to the law have increased protection for endangered species which live in forest and woodlands.

The Habitats Regulations, which have just come into force, will increase protection for European Protected Species (EPS) found in woodlands in England and Wales, including the dormouse, great crested newt, otter, sand lizard, smooth snake and all 17 species of bat. A number of them occur in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

Since 1994, it has been an offence to deliberately kill or disturb one of the protected species, or destroy their eggs. It has also been an offence to damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place used by them.

The amended regulations include as an offence any damage or destruction of a breeding site or resting place of an EPS. Previously, if damage was "an incidental result of a lawful operation" and reasonable precautions had been taken to avoid it, it would not have been an offence.

This means that there is now an increased risk of woodland operators committing an offence if they have not carried out the necessary checks, planned operations carefully and sought a licence where required.

Tim Rollinson, director general of the Forestry Commission, said: "These changes - while driven by the need to comply with European legislation - are a sure sign of forestry's role in conserving and creating some of our richest habitats.

"We are committed to increasing the sustainable management of woodlands, not least for the biodiversity protected by the Habitats Regulations and will be working hard to support woodland owners in understanding and complying with these amended regulations."

The commission has placed information on the regulations on its website www.forestry.gov. uk/england-protectedspecies