The JNCC has a varied role in mammal
conservation here in the UK, and internationally within Europe and
beyond.
National and International Policy
Advice.
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:
- The Habitats Directive has the fundamental
purpose of establishing a network of protected areas throughout the
European Community designed to maintain both the distribution and
abundance of threatened species and habitats. This directive has
given rise to a number of Special Areas of Conservation being
designated for Annex II species including greater and lesser
horseshoe bats, barbastelle bats, Bechstein's bats and otters.
- The Agreement on the Conservation of
Populations of European Bats. The first international Agreement
devoted to the conservation of bats and the first Agreement of its
kind under Article IV of the Bonn Convention. A fundamental obligation of the
Agreement is to identify and protect shelter and feeding sites that
are important for the conservation status of bats. The JNCC
provides scientific advice to DEFRA and in this role attends
Meetings of the Parties and of the Scientific Advisory Committee
and assists in production of the National Report, which is an
update on bat activities carried out in the UK under the
Agreement.
Monitoring Mammals across the
UK.
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 UK Red Squirrel
Group.
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/.
Mammal
Publications
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.
Safety first with new Bat Workers'
Manual
JNCC's new 3rd edition of the Bat Workers' Manual
includes revised recommendations on the handling of bats,
vaccinations against European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV), and a list of
contact details for finding the latest advice on the subject.
Updated information on legislation, and other essential advice, has
also been included.
The Bat Workers' Manual has always been one of JNCC's
best-selling publications. It provides detailed information on all
aspects of bats and is an essential reference manual for anyone
wishing to obtain a licence to carry out bat work in the UK.