Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
JNCC is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and
international nature conservation. Its work contributes to
maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving
geological features and sustaining natural systems. JNCC delivers
the UK and international responsibilities of the four country
nature conservation agencies - Council for Nature Conservation
and the Countryside, the Countryside Council for Wales, Natural
England and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Reducing disturbance to wildfowl in severe
winter weather
Prolonged periods of cold weather are stressful for
over-wintering waterbirds, reducing feeding opportunities and
increasing energy demands. At such times, normally benign levels of
disturbance can be detrimental. For these reasons shooting
organisations co-operate with statutory and voluntary conservation
organisations to minimise disturbance. JNCC operates a national
alerting system that identifies severe weather periods and allows
temporary cessation of shooting and other disturbances.
Find out about the most important actions
needed for habitats if they are to have a safe future in the UK. A
new report covers land-based habitats which are protected by the
European Union’s Habitats Directive. The project was a response to
the second UK and European Reports on Implementation of the
Habitats Directive, which showed that many habitats are under
serious pressure across Europe. Experts in ecology from
conservation agencies across the UK worked together to agree the
top priority actions for 31 habitats, from dunes to mountain
heaths
The Chief Scientists’ Group of JNCC and the country agencies has
established an inter-agency group to undertake revisions to the
Guidelines for Selection of Biological SSSIs, to share information
and maintain an overview of reviews of the SSSI series being
undertaken in each country.
The review will concentrate on parts A and B of the Guidelines,
which set out the rationale and principles for site identification.
These require revision to capture the changes in law,
administration and practice due to devolution; and also to address
changes in terms of the purpose of the network, particularly with
regards to adaptation to climate change and the ecosystem approach.
In addition, updating any gaps identified should only be undertaken
where there is a demonstrable need to do so. The inter-agency group
has established a timetable for delivery of the
review.
Fred Burton MBE is the first winner of the JNCC’s Overseas
Territories and Crown Dependencies Nature Conservation Award. Fred
has worked in conservation in the Cayman Islands for over 20 years,
with the last nine as the Director of the Blue Iguana Recovery
Programme – an unsalaried position.
The JNCC celebrated Fred’s dedication, at a ceremony held in
Peterborough.
A group of novel
Phytophthora species are now infecting
and killing bilberry in parts of the UK. Bilberry forms a dominant
component of vegetation in a considerable number of important
habitats, as well as supporting other species. The biodiversity
impacts are potentially far-reaching, and further research is being
undertaken to assess this and to look at possible control
mechanisms.
Using biofuels as a partial replacement for fossil fuels such
as petrol and diesel can save GHG emissions but their production
can also have potentially negative environmental impacts. There is
concern that the increasing use of biomass for biofuels will place
yet another unwelcome pressure on global ecosystems. The use of
Brazilian sugar and Asian palm oil has attracted attention to
biofuels impacts in the tropical zone, particularly in tropical
forests. A new JNCC report shows that the current UK biofuels
consumption pattern, based on 90% imported fuels and a strong
preference for biodiesel, is actually increasing pressures on
temperate grasslands rather than tropical ecosystems.
As part of a wider review of JNCC’s work in support of UK
conservation standards, there is now greater clarity as to our role
in relation to the production of Red Lists. JNCC continues to
recognise the merit in Red Lists, but its role will change to one
of guidance and quality assurance assessment.
It is twenty years since the last International Rivers
conference in the UK, which set the agenda for much progress. The
2010 conference is a chance to set a dynamic new agenda for the
next decades.