Species

An important part of JNCC's work concerns species conservation. This includes giving advice on UK policy and legislation regarding species, as well as commissioning and supporting surveillance and monitoring schemes to assess and report upon the changing status of species in the UK. This section covers terrestrial and freshwater species. Find out about marine species.

Current Topics of Interest

Phytophthora impacts on biodiversity

Phytophthora is a genus of plant-damaging water moulds that are responsible for a number of notorious plant diseases, such as potato blight. Three species, named ramorum, kernoviae and pseudosyringae have recently been identified in the UK affecting heathland plants. They are believed to be non-native, and may have been introduced via international horticultural trade. Further information on Phytophthora>>>

Species Status

JNCC has collated information on species status and designations, and you can download the list as a spreadsheet.

A new review of dragonfly species status updates has been published: The Odonata Red List for Great Britain (2008), Daguet, C., French, G., and Taylor, P., (eds). This replaces the assessment published over 20 years ago in the Insect Red Data Book (Shirt, 1987). Over the intervening years dragonfly recording effort has strengthened, the IUCN Red List criteria and categories have been radically overhauled and the distribution of dragonfly species has changed.

Quinquennial Review

Common Toad

Every five years, the statutory nature conservation agencies (Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage), working jointly through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), are required to review Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and to make recommendations to the Secretary of State and Ministers for the Environment. Schedule 5 lists animals (other than birds) which are specially protected, and Schedule 8 lists plants which are specially protected.

Link: The Fifth Quinquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981

Avian Influenza

Juvenile mute swans

Position statement on avian influenza issued by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of English Nature (now known as Natural England), Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland.

Further information on avian influenza and advice to birdwatchers.

Biological Records Centre: Report 1999-2004

This report highlights major achievements, including new atlases and improved data access via the NBN Gateway. More>>>