Download BRIG160909 item 5civ Appointing Lead Partners for species BRIG

BRIG 20
16 September 2009
Agenda item 8
Appointing UK Lead Partners for priority species
For other BRIG papers and minutes of BRIG meetings visit
http:// www.jncc.gov.uk/page-5700
For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) visit
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-5155
BRIG160909 item 5civ
Appointing Lead Partners for species
Appointing UK Lead Partners for priority species
1. Background
1.1. UK Biodiversity Partnership Standing Committee requested that BRIG:
‘coordinate the identification of lead partners for species occurring in more than one
country of the UK.’
2. Present Situation
2.1. There are 600 species that occur in more than one country of the UK and of these 472
have at least one species specific action. It is generally accepted that for species that
only require wider policy or habitat actions, no lead partners will be required as these
species will be dealt with by country and UK ecosystem groups and by country policy
groups.
2.2. Countries are expected to make arrangements for all of the species that are restricted
to only one country of the UK.
2.3. It is also proposed that UK lead partners will only be appointed to cover gaps in
country arrangements for the coordination and implementation of species action.
Early indications are that Wales and Scotland will probably appoint species lead
partners, or something equivalent, for some species that occur in more than one
country of the UK.
3. Proposal for appointing UK species lead partners.
3.1. There are a number of scenarios that could result from the arrangements currently
being taken by countries to coordinate and implement actions for species that occur in
more than one country of the UK:
Scenario 1 - No country makes any arrangements for the species. Proposal – BRIG appoints
a UK lead partner for the species.
Scenario 2 – All countries within the range of the species appoint a country lead partner.
Proposal - No UK lead partner is necessary. One country will be invited to undertake
the minimal level of UK coordination required and report to BRIG when necessary.
Scenario 3 – At least one, but not all countries, within the UK range of the species, appoints
a lead partner. Proposal – One of the country lead partners is invited to undertake the
remaining UK coordination activities required for the species. If no country takes up
this invite, BRIG will consider the best options for undertaking the outstanding lead
partner role. As it would be inappropriate to appoint a UK lead partner with a remit
that extends to only one country, it is inevitable that BRIG will have to undertake
dialogue with all countries involved under these circumstances.
BRIG160909 item 5civ
Appointing Lead Partners for species
3.2. When UK lead partners are required, former lead partners within the BAP process that
have performed well and would like to continue in a lead partner role, will be the
preferred option. Sometimes this might involve the former lead partner in taking on a
role for a different species. Under these circumstances BRIG would consult with the
former lead partner to make sure their wishes were fully understood and taken
account of.
4. Next Steps
Step 1 - BRIG to establish terms of reference and accountability arrangements for
any UK lead partners appointed.
Step 2 - Countries to make BRIG aware of the arrangements for species action as
soon as they are known.
Step 3 - BRIG to confirm the need for UK lead partners once country arrangements
are known.
Step 4 - BRIG to appoint UK species lead partners
Step 5 - BRIG to consult with countries to develop options for filling any remaining
gaps.
5. Timetable
5.1. BRIG could conceivably move very rapidly once country arrangements for species
actions are known. Countries are now making rapid progress but have a great deal of
work to do so, without placing any extra pressure on country work in progress, BRIG
should probably place a preliminary deadline of the end 2009 for appointing UK lead
partners (Step 4 above) and the end of March 2010 for resolving any remaining gaps
(Step 5 above).