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 conservation bodies - Council for Nature
Conservation and the Countryside, the Countryside Council for
Wales, Natural England and Scottish Natural
Heritage.
What will the Lisbon Treaty mean for JNCC and its policy
priorities? What are the future challenges for UK and Global
biodiversity? And what are the priorities for JNCC regarding
climate change and energy? These are just some of the topics being
discussed at the latest JNCC committee meeting held in Peterborough
on 25 March 2010. Papers for the
Joint Committee meeting and
JNCC Support Co are available online.
Should you wish to attend please
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.
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.
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.