UK habitats and species
The UK has a wealth of land and freshwater habitats, including
dunes, fens, grassland, heathland, marsh, rivers and woodland.
Together they are home to many thousands of species.
UK habitats
JNCC’s work on habitats includes habitat protection, designation
and advice, through the development of guidelines for Sites of
Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and the co-ordination of the
identification and submission of possible Special Areas of
Conservation (SACs) to the European Commission. Additionally,
work is undertaken on habitat survey, monitoring and
classification, through the provision of advice on habitat
surveillance and monitoring, and working closely with the country
agencies on guidance for habitats on protected sites through Common
Standards Monitoring.
For more
information about UK habitats>>>
Species conservation in the UK
JNCC has a number of statutory responsibilities in relation to
UK species conservation. This includes providing advice on UK
policy and legislation regarding species, setting up and supporting
surveillance and monitoring to assess and report on the changing
status of species, and carrying out quality assurance assessments
of Red Lists, which record species at risk. JNCC also engages
with conservation-orientated non-governmental organisations and
specialist societies.
Currently, the public consultation on the 6th Quinquennial Review
(QQR) of schedules 5 and 8 (protected wild animals and plants)
of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) is underway, and is due
to run until 30 March 2013.
For more information about species conservation in the
UK>>>
Status and trends of the UK's natural environment
The status of the UK’s natural environment and trends in status
changes underpin most of JNCC’s work. Traditionally, trends
have been calculated to identify changes in the distribution,
extent, status or quality of species and habitats. This
information relies heavily on the results from surveillance and
monitoring schemes and biological recording.
The status and trends of species and habitats also provide
building blocks that are used to support the UK’s commitment to
outcome-oriented reporting and assessment. They form the basis of
UK and country biodiversity indicators, evidence reports, reports
in response to UK reporting obligations, and advice.
For more information about status and trends of the
UK's natural environment>>>