Joint Nature Conservation Committee
JNCC is the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation.
Our work helps maintain and enrich biological diversity and conserve geological features. It also helps sustain natural systems, which provide the core “services” we all depend on like food, fresh water and clean air. In this way they contribute to economic growth and social well-being and are integral to sustainable development
Good policy-making, planning, development and risk management all depend on reliable, up-to-date information about biodiversity status and trends. Our role is to provide evidence, information and advice so decisions can be made that protect our natural resources and systems.
JNCC itself is a forum that brings together the UK’s four country conservation bodies. We advise Government and a wide range of bodies to help join up policy and to deliver a strong and cost-effective evidence base by helping to see that the best possible return is achieved from investment in research and surveillance in the UK and internationally.
Seas and oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the surface of the planet and a similar proportion of the area under UK control is sea (not including the seas around UK overseas territories). The seas and their biodiversity are crucial to food supply, management of global climate, energy and many other aspects that are vital to human well-being. So it is essential that human activities at sea are managed for sustainability and that biodiversity is conserved.