The UK Department of the Environment is the highest administrative body for the management of matters relating to the environment. The Ministry of the Environment is the highest administrative agency that manages matters related to the environment. It was established in 1970 by merging the original Ministry of Housing and Local Administration, the Ministry of Public Buildings and the Ministry of Transport to increase its functions, and is responsible for the unified leadership, public buildings, coordination of urban and rural planning, land planning and utilization, transportation, pollution prevention and environmental protection.