JNCC is the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation. Originally established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, we were reconstituted by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006. We are the forum through which the country nature conservation bodies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland discharge their statutory responsibilities across the UK and internationally. 

We are led by the Joint Committee, which brings together, under an independent Chair, members from the nature conservation bodies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and independent members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The day-to-day work of the Committee is undertaken by our support company which is limited by guarantee – the JNCC Support Co. 

We provide a shared scientific nature conservation service for the UK. We're the mechanism for the UK Government and devolved administrations to pool their resources to obtain evidence and advice on nature conservation and natural capital. By operating at a UK level we are able to achieve value for money through economies of scale and avoiding duplication of effort. 

Across non-government sectors there is increasing awareness of the benefits provided by the natural environment and the importance of preserving these to ensure more sustainable use. We are increasingly looking for opportunities to apply our expertise and advice to support this approach with these sectors, both within the UK and internationally.