Chair's Introduction

Welcome to the first edition of Nature News for 2012. As I write this the sun is Peter Bridgewater, Chair, JNCC with Arbutus menziesii © JNCC shining strongly and the temperature is well above average. Contrast that with the chills and chaos of last year and we see the real effects of climate change, much greater variability. The response of biodiversity in the UK and globally to this increasingly erratic climate will present the main challenge for us and the country conservation bodies, as well as policy departments in governments, in the coming years.

And while climate change effects are most obvious on land, they are being felt in the seas as well. Marine nature conservation is a key focus for us this year, with July seeing the deadline for submission of formal advice from JNCC and Natural England to Defra ministers on the identification of Marine Conservation Zones. Work with Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage to identify Marine Protected Areas in Scottish waters is also gathering pace and JNCC will continue to support Defra and the devolved administrations in completing the series of marine Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas in UK waters. We will need to make sure we achieve coherence in the suite of marine protected areas of whatever kind, to help provide the conservation heart of sustainable use/development of our marine environment.

Now to dry land, where work continues to update information on the status and trends of terrestrial species across the UK, underpinning UK biodiversity indicators. A new UK Biodiversity Framework should be finalised early this year, and JNCC will have a crucial role in supporting its implementation, in particular through the provision of evidence and advice to support the various country environment strategies within the UK. Looking forward to April, the second plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will be held in Panama. The platform aims to bring scientific and policy communities closer together and JNCC is working closely with the academic community and Defra to define a position that best benefits the UK and our continuing lead role in setting the global agenda for biodiversity conservation and management.

Continuing with the international scene, JNCC staff will be involved in the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in India in October - a key mechanism for agreeing global action to manage biodiversity change, especially reducing its loss. Support for biodiversity in the UK's Overseas Territories will continue, and on our home turf JNCC will be advising government on European issues, including producing conservation status assessments of habitats and species in the UK for the next six-yearly Habitats Directive report.

This brings me to this issue of Nature News. Official statistics on UK biodiversity – everything from bats to wetland birds - are produced by JNCC working closely with partner organisations. This issue looks at how these data contribute to the UK biodiversity indicators. Other features include a forward look to the sixth Quinquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, plus an update on progress with Marine Conservation Zones.

Obviously, we are working with within the current economic constraints which will make this year both challenging and interesting. I’m looking forward to 2012, despite the difficulties, welcome as ever your inputs, and wish you happy reading!

Peter Bridgewater, Chair, JNCC

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Indirect land use change from biofuel production

JNCC Report 456

This major report highlights biodiversity impacts of indirect land use change caused by unsustainable biofuel production. Increased demand for biofuels and biomass to achieve renewable energy targets is putting pressure on biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide. The research undertaken by UNEP-WCMC and JNCC highlights a new and so far little understood threat - the impact of indirect land use change on biodiversity.

Appointment to St Helena

Tara Pelembe, who previously held the post of Senior Overseas Territories Adviser at JNCC, has become the first head of a new Environmental Management Department established in St Helena.

St Helena is one of the most remote UK Overseas Territories located 4,000 miles away in the South Atlantic. It is currently without an airfield, with limited access to the island by mail ship only. A planned new airport will dramatically increase pressure on the islands unique and fagile environment.

The new department will be responsible for protecting this environment which is St Helena's greatest asset. Tara is on loan to the St Helena government for two years to set up and manage the new department.

Peatlands role in UK GHG emissions

JNCC Report 457

Peatland ecosystems are unique, specialist habitats recognised under international and national legislation, acting as key stores of terrestrial carbon. This new report provides an overview for UK policy-makers and research providers on reviews published by JNCC on understanding the role played by peatland in UK GHG emissions.

Global review of MPA monitoring programmes

JNCC Report 455

This report evaluates some key long-term Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring programmes from around the world against a good monitoring framework, highlighting several issues concerned with these programmes. The current issues within these monitoring programmes and lessons learned from other fields of marine and environmental research are relevant to all types of environmental monitoring. These lessons should help improve the scientific credibility and success of current and upcoming marine monitoring programmes.