Invertebrate Link

Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) is the forum for voluntary and professional organisations involved in the conservation and study of invertebrates in the UK.

There are currently 36 member organisations, including the leading conservation charities, entomological societies and statutory agencies, represented on the Committee.  The Committee’s objective is to “advance the conservation of invertebrates in the UK by facilitating exchange of information between relevant organisations and statutory bodies, and by providing a context for co-operative ventures in relation to the development of strategy, policy, principles and best practice”.

History

Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) was formed in 1968 as the Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Insects. The name was later changed to reflect coverage of non-insect groups, becoming the Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates. More recently, the name has been changed again to Invertebrate Link (JCCBI), to reflect the Committee’s key role as a “link” body. Over the years, the Committee has produced a number of well-regarded documents, in the form of codes of practice, statements, guidelines, etc. (see below). It has also provided a unique forum for the exchange of information and views amongst a wide range of bodies involved in invertebrate conservation in the UK. Through Invertebrate Link (JCCBI), member organisations work to develop collective views based on a broad consensus.

Committee member organisations

Amateur Entomologists Society; Ancient Tree Forum; Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust; Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society; Biological Records Centre; British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (Terrestrial Invertebrates Working Group); British Arachnological Society; British Dragonfly Society; British Entomological & Natural History Society; British Myriapod & Isopod Group; Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust; Butterfly Conservation; Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland; Countryside Council for Wales; Dipterists Forum; Environment Agency; Environment & Heritage Service; Field Studies Council; Forestry Commission; Freshwater Biological Association; Joint Nature Conservation Committee; Linnean Society; Malacological Society; National Biodiversity Network Trust; National Museums of Scotland; Natural England; Natural History Museum; Oxford University Museum of Natural History; People’s Trust for Endangered Species; Riverfly Partnership; Royal Entomological Society; Royal HorticulturalSociety; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Scottish Natural Heritage; The National Trust; The Wildlife Trusts.

Outputs from Invertebrate Link (JCCBI)

Code for insect collecting

A widely cited guide to good practice in insect collecting. First published in 1972; revised and re-issued in 1987; recently revised and re-issued as:

• Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) (2002) A Code of Conduct for Collecting Insects and Other Invertebrates. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 15(1): 1-6.

Code for insect re-introductions

A widely cited guide to good practice, first published as JCCBI (1986) Insect re-establishment – a code of conservation practice. Antenna 10(1), 13-18. Most recently revised and re-issued as:

• Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) (2010) Invertebrate translocation – a code of conservation practice. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 23(3): 207-217.

Statement on Legislation

• Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) (2008) Statement on the appropriate role of legislation in controlling activities likely to harm specified taxa of terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates, with particular reference to taking and killing. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 21(3), 202-204.

Guidelines for invertebrate site surveys

• Brooks, S.J. (1993) Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates: Guidelines for invertebrate site surveys. British Wildlife 4(5), 283-286. [Also available as AES Leaflet 38 – Site survey guidelines].

Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) Conference proceedings

• Brooks, S.J., ed. (1997). Unity of purpose for invertebrate conservation: maintaining the biodiversity of British invertebrates. Proc. 1st JCCBI Conf., Peterborough, 24th February 1996, 48pp.
• Brooks, S.J. & Nellist, D eds. (1998) How to give invertebrates a higher profile in conservation. Proc. 2nd JCCBI Conf., Peterborough, 27th September 1997, 74 pp.
• Cheesman, O.D. ed. (2004) Unity of purpose for invertebrate conservation: launch of the Invertebrate Conservation Trust. Proc. 3rd Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) Conf., Peterborough, 31st March, 2001, 49pp.
• Cheesman, O.D. ed. (in preparation) Favourable Conservation Status: What Does This Mean for Invertebrates? Proc. 4th Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) Conf., Peterborough, 3rd April, 2004.

Outputs from the 5th Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) Conference Who will watch the small things that run the world? Recruiting the next generation of invertebrate specialists, held at the Natural History Museum, London, 9th November 2006, appeared in:

• Masters, G.J., Smithers, P. & Cheesman, O.D. (eds) (2007) Taking Entomology to a Wider Audience: Who Will Watch the Small Things That Run the World? Antenna 31(2).

Other publications, guidelines and policy documents relevant to the work of Invertebrate Link

• Cheesman, O.D. & Key, R.S. (2007) The extinction of experience: a threat to insect conservation? In: Stewart, A.J.A., New, T.R. & Lewis, O.T. (eds.) Insect Conservation Biology. Proceedings of the 23rd Symposium of the Royal Entomological Society, pp. 322-348. CABI Publishing, Wallingford.
• Cheesman, O.D. (2006) Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) and the Royal Entomological Society. Antenna 30: 99-100.
• Cheesman, O.D. & Phillips, J.W. (2004) Invertebrate conservation in the UK – the role of Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) and the British Entomological and Natural History Society. British Journal of Entomology & Natural History 17, 10-14.
• Invertebrate Link (JCCBI) (2004) UK BAP Priority Species Review 2005: the role of Invertebrate Link (JCCBI). British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 17: 55-56.
• Willing, M.J. (2000) JCCBI Green Paper: Towards establishing a national invertebrate conservation co-ordinating body. The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. Published as an appendix to the Proceedings of the 3rd Conference.
• Lott, D. & Stubbs, A.E. (1999) Guidelines to local BAP groups on the selection of priority habitats for invertebrates. Unpublished.

Lists of rare and endangered British insects (amongst the first formal attempts to recognise those species in need of particular conservation attention):

• JCCBI (1973a) British Macrolepidoptera: rare and endangered species and forms. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 108 [1972], 179-180.
• JCCBI (1973b) British Odonata and Orthoptera: rare and endangered species. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 109, 50.
• JCCBI (1973c) Rare and endangered species general list. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 109, 250-251.
• Stubbs, A.E. (1972) Wildlife conservation and dead wood. Quarterly Journal of the Devon Trust for Nature Conservation. Supplement 1-18.