Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Encyclopedia
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the statutory adviser to the UK Government on national and international nature conservation. Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems. The JNCC is a non-departmental public body
.
JNCC delivers the UK and international responsibilities of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC), the Countryside Council for Wales
(CCW), Natural England
, and Scottish Natural Heritage
(SNH). 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.
The Committee comprises 14 members: a Chairman and five independent members appointed by the Secretary of State; the Chairman of CNCC; the Chairmen or deputy Chairmen of CCW, Natural England and SNH; and one other member from each of these bodies.
JNCC, originally established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, was reconstituted by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Support is provided to the JNCC by a company limited by guarantee (JNCC Support Co) that the Committee established in 2005.
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
.
JNCC delivers the UK and international responsibilities of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC), the Countryside Council for Wales
Countryside Council for Wales
The Countryside Council for Wales is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body. It is the Welsh Assembly Government's wildlife conservation authority for Wales...
(CCW), Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
, and Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...
(SNH). 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.
The Committee comprises 14 members: a Chairman and five independent members appointed by the Secretary of State; the Chairman of CNCC; the Chairmen or deputy Chairmen of CCW, Natural England and SNH; and one other member from each of these bodies.
JNCC, originally established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, was reconstituted by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Support is provided to the JNCC by a company limited by guarantee (JNCC Support Co) that the Committee established in 2005.