Natural England

Natural England has issued a call to local conservation groups to help build a better understanding of England’s wildlife.

The call comes on the back of a consultation issued by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) on the draft assessment of the state of the UK’s rarest wildlife. The consultation calls for more scientific data to plug knowledge gaps.

Every six years, Member States of the European Union report on the implementation of the Habitats Directive and publish an assessment of the conservation status of all habitats and species.

Dr Tom Tew, Natural England’s Chief Scientist, commenting on the UK report, said: “An assessment of this scale has never been done before in the UK. It highlights the need for high quality scientific information about the whereabouts and number of our rarest wildlife, particularly in the wider countryside surrounding protected sites. The threats to our wildlife and habitats, particularly from climate change, grow ever greater. The more information we have, the better we can help conserve them.”

He said: ”Natural England has made a huge contribution to the UK assessment both with information on species and habitats in Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England, and the extensive expertise from our conservation specialists. However, it’s clear that there are gaps in our knowledge and this consultation will allow local and national conservationists to comment on, and add to, the accuracy of the report.”

JNCC is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international nature conservation. Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems.