Nature conservation and management will be on the agenda when the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) - the public body that advises UK and devolved governments on UK-wide and international nature conservation - holds its first ever meeting in a Crown Dependency later this week. 

The Claremont Hotel, Douglas will host JNCC’s first meeting of 2014, which will bring together members from the four country nature conservation bodies in the UK – Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, Natural Resources Wales and the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (Northern Ireland) – and independent scientists. Key areas of discussion will include ideas to advance conservation thinking on protected areas in the UK and future work for JNCC’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Programme.

Prior to the meeting, the Isle of Man Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture will host a reception for Joint Committee members and representatives from local organisations including the Manx Museum and National Trust, Manx Wildlife Trust and Manx Natural Heritage.

JNCC Chief Executive Marcus Yeo said: “One of JNCC’s roles is to advise on nature conservation in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies and this includes the Isle of Man. Holding our Committee meeting on the island will help to reaffirm this role and strengthen our relationship with the Manx government. We are looking forward to meeting our Manx counterparts and gaining a greater understanding of the conservation challenges for the local community.”