In November 2000, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CRoW) gained Royal assent. Not since the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949 has British wildlife been such a substantial Government priority on its own merits: the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act was passed principally to implement the EEC Birds Directive, whilst the Habitats' Regulations introduced in 1994 were meant to implement the Habitats Directive.