It gives me great pride to introduce this Annual Report in my first year as Chairman of JNCC. We have entered into an important period of change for the organisation, and much has already been achieved to take us forward into a new era of nature conservation.

 

The first JNCC strategy was endorsed by Committee in June 2004, and will guide all our actions in the years to come. It will bring significant changes in what we do and how we work.

 

Our new strategy is the culmination of two years of hard work and deliberation and has three elements:

 

 

A great deal of planning has taken place during the report year to prepare us for the implementation of the strategy. We have already seen a change of direction. Our activities will now be more focused on the international arena, and sit within the framework of sustainable development, rather than dealing with nature conservation issues in isolation.

 

Another important progression has been the establishment of the JNCC Support Co in March 2005. This should bring greater stability for all our staff, as they go about the business of providing advice and sharing knowledge to protect and enhance our environment, both in the UK and on a European and global scale.

 

In particular, I would like to thank David Ingram for holding the fort to ensure that all this important business could continue to progress throughout this landmark period. We can be proud that JNCC has put in place the foundations for a whole-UK approach to nature conservation at home and abroad, and the mechanisms to enable us to see clearly the challenges ahead.