Article 18 National nature reserves

(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.