Nature Conservancy Council was a government-appointed body concerned with all aspects of nature conservation in the United Kingdom. In 1990, it was disbanded into three separate organizations: the Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, and Scottish Natural Heritage. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee coordinates the activities of these three regional bodies. Under the 1990 Environmental Protection Act, these groups designate national nature reserves, notify sites of special scientific interest, and are responsible for the nomination of marine nature reserves.