Habitats

The UK supports a rich assemblage of terrestrial and freshwater habitats, which are home to many thousands of wildlife species. Amongst these are different types of dunes, fens, grassland, heathland, marsh, rivers, woodland, etc. – JNCC also provides advice on Marine habitats.

Habitat protection, designation & advice

A wide range of UK habitats are subject to various protective measures. A number of International Conventions, European Directives, and pieces of UK Legislation apply to them, including:

• The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats 1979;
• The Convention on Biological Diversity 1993;
• The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981;
• The EC Habitats Directive 1992.

These have been formulated into a number of policy measures and formal site designations. These include Sites/Areas of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs/ASSIs), which is the fundamental statutory mechanism for protecting sites of ecological interest in the UK. Detailed Guidelines for the selection of biological SSSIs are produced by JNCC.

Many UK habitats are listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. JNCC provides advice and assistance to government to enable it to meet its obligations to conserve habitats under this Directive. In particular, the JNCC has the role of co-ordinating the identification and submission of possible Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to the European Commission. Detailed information on the selection of SACs in the UK is included in JNCC's SAC Selection pages. The JNCC has also worked with the UK country nature conservation agencies to secure an agreed approach to reporting on the Conservation status of Annex I habitats and their component SACs.

Advice on habitat conservation issues is also required to support the implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive and the Ramsar Convention in the UK. Under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the JNCC has assisted in the design of Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) and the selection of BAP priority habitats.

Habitat survey, monitoring & classification

The JNCC supports habitat conservation by advising on survey methodologies and maintaining common standards for habitat classifications. Information is provided through publications (e.g. on Phase 1 survey and the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) as well as on-line resources such as interactive distribution maps for various NVC types.

Providing advice on habitat surveillance and monitoring is an important part of the JNCC's work. We work closely with the country agencies on guidance for the monitoring of habitat, species and earth science interest features on protected sites via Common Standards Monitoring. We are also helping to develop surveillance and monitoring initiatives in the wider countryside with a view to promoting effective habitat and species conservation measures, e.g. by advising on the development of habitat inventories and contributing to the development, implementation, and assessment of results from the Countryside Surveys.

How we work

JNCC habitat advice work is undertaken by staff based in JNCC Peterborough, supported by inter-agency Lead Co-ordination Networks (LCNs) covering coastal, freshwater, lowland grassland, lowland heathland, lowland wetland, upland and woodland habitats and soils. Each of these is chaired by a specialist based in one of the country agencies and supported by an LCN Network Officer.