A new Vascular Plant Red Data List for Great Britain has recently been published. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee notes that, after an examination of the whole of the British flora, many species have been included that have never appeared on any threat lists before, but nevertheless are in rapid decline. Out of 1,756 taxa, 345 (19.6%) are currently threatened. JNCC's key messages from this are:

Clients of Christopher Betts Environmental Biology are increasingly aware of the rules and regulations about wild flora and biodiversity and know that we always check sites carefully for the presence of notable species so that appropriate action can be taken and problems avoided.

JNCC go on to say that the new Red List is radically different to the previous three editions of the Red Data Book for vascular plants because this is the first time that:

The work has been carried out by a partnership co-ordinated by JNCC, and including the Biological Records Centre (within CEH), Botanical Society for the British Isles, Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, Natural History Museum, Plantlife, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and Scottish Natural Heritage.

More information from JNCC at www.jncc.gov.uk or please call one of our scientists at CBEB for help at any time.