The JNCC has a varied role in mammal
conservation here in the UK, and internationally within Europe and
beyond.
There are a number of international
treaties whose objectives are to encourage the conservation of
mammals and the habitats they use, through national action and
international co-operation. The JNCC provides advice and support to
the Government in meeting its obligations under the international
treaties. The most relevant ones to mammals are:
A great deal of survey work has been
carried out in the past to ascertain the distribution and abundance
of a number of UK mammal species. However, as yet we do not have
the required information to make an ongoing assessment of the
status of all mammal species across the UK. In order to provide
this information
JNCC and 22 other
organisations with varied interests in mammals have formed
the
Tracking Mammals Partnership.
The UKRSG is the Lead Partner for
the red squirrel Species Action Plan (SAP) with the main function
of co-ordinating the delivery of the red squirrel SAP across the
UK. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is Secretariat for
the UK Red Squirrel Group (UKRSG) and in that role is responsible
for ensuring that actions decided by the group are carried
out. See
http://www.ukredsquirrels.org/.
The JNCC has published a number of
useful reports and manuals on mammals. These include a review of
population estimates and conservation status of terrestrial mammals
in the UK (
A review of British mammals) and a manual
for those carrying out bat work under licence from the Country
Agencies (CCW, EN, SNH, EHSNI). There are also a number of reports
on individual species, including brown hare, otter, pine marten and
red squirrel.
The most recent publications are a
comprehensive guide and a short leaflet entitled
Habitat management for bats . The
publications are intended to provide advice to farmers and
landowners on how to manage their land to benefit bats.