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Joint Nature Conservation Committee

What is the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)?

JNCC is the statutory adviser to the Government on UK and international nature conservation. JNCC delivers the UK and international responsibilities of the four country nature conservation agencies:

The work of the JNCC contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems.

For full information see the JNCC Website external site .

What does JNCC do?

The JNCC's work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems. The functions that arise from these responsibilities are principally to:

  • Advise Government on the development and implementation of policies for, or affecting, nature conservation in the UK and internationally;
  • Provide advice and disseminate knowledge on nature conservation issues affecting the UK and internationally;
  • Establish common standards throughout the UK for nature conservation, including monitoring, research, and the analysis of results;
  • Commission or support research which it deems relevant to these functions.

What does JNCC do for SNH?

The JNCC undertakes a range of functions some of which it undertakes on our behalf, and others in which it offers services to help us carry out our own work. To strengthen the links between our two organisations, we have a JNCC Liaison Group to ensure that we receive the products and services it requires from JNCC.

To facilitate work on certain topics, inter-agency Lead Coordination Networks external site   have been established for freshwater, uplands, lowland grasslands, lowland heathlands, woodlands, lowland wetlands, coastal habitats, soils and air pollution.  Each of these networks is chaired by a specialist based in one of the country agencies and supported by a network officer.

What is the structure of JNCC?

The JNCC comprises 14 members: a Chair and five independent members appointed by the Secretary of State; the Chairman of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (Northern Ireland); the Chairmen or deputy Chairmen of Countryside Council of Wales, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage; and one other member from each of these bodies.

Support is provided to the JNCC by the JNCC Support Company. The JNCC operates separately from the JNCC Support Company to discharge its top level strategic and advisory responsibilities, delegating the delivery of the work required to achieve these to the company, via the Board. The Board of Directors of the JNCC Support Co. is responsible for ensuring that the company discharges its obligation in respect of delivering the work of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The board consists of 17 Directors, 14 of whom are Members of the Committee, plus 3 additional directors employed by the company.

Who represents SNH as members of JNCC?

The SNH Chairman and one other Board Member represent SNH as members of the JNCC.