GB Non-native Species Mechanism

The GB Non-native Species Mechanism consists of a Programme Board, Secretariat, Risk Analysis Panel, Stakeholder Forum and Working Groups. The Programme Board and key stakeholders interact via working groups and the annual stakeholder forum; this is facilitated by the Secretariat and its website. The remits and aims of the individual constituents of the mechanism are summarised below (for full details use the links on the left):

Programme Board

The Programme Board was established in March 2005 to deliver strategic consideration of the threat of invasive non-native species across GB. The Programme Board is made up of senior representatives from across GB Administrations and their agencies, exercising responsibility in their own areas and as representatives of wider interests and it is supported by an independent Secretariat.

Non-native Species Secretariat

The Non-native Species Secretariat was set up in March 2006. The main duties of the Secretariat are to support the actions and to undertake a programme of work to meet the aims of the Programme Board. The Secretariat is the focal point for communication and co-ordination between the Programme Board, Working Groups and stakeholders.

The Stakeholder Forum

The Stakeholder Forum is usually an annual meeting of a large group of stakeholder representatives from all sectors. The aim of the Forum is to give relevant stakeholders the opportunity to comment and provide feedback on the progress of non-native species issues in GB.

Strategy Working Group

The Programme Board set up a Strategy Working Group to develop a strategy for dealing with non-native species in GB and to produce a draft for public consultation in March 2007. The Strategy WG has members from government and non-government organisations.

Risk Analysis Panel

The Non-native Species Risk Anaysis Panel (NNRAP) is a core group of risk assessment experts who provide advice on risk associated with non-native species and pathways.

Stakeholder Sounding Board

This component is currently being set up. The Sounding Board will be a group of key stakeholder representatives who will be used to provide early feedback on a range of issues such as proposed legislative and policy changes.

GB Coordinating Mechanism

Coming soon: Further Working Groups will be establishedby the Secretariat on behalf of the Programme Board to examine specific issues or deliver specified outcomes.

The diagram below shows how the GB co-ordinating mechanism works and whom members of the Programme Board represent: A flow chart of the mechanism is available here.

  • ASFFW Aquaculture, Salmon, Freshwater Fisheries & Whaling, Defra
  • BI Bee Inspectorate
  • CCW Countryside Council for Wales
  • CEFAS Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
  • CSL Central Science Laboratory
  • DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government
  • DfT Department for Transport
  • DOENI Department of Environment for Northern Ireland
  • DTI Department for Trade and Industry (now incorporated in Department for Business enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
  • FCO Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • FHI Fish Health Inspectorate
  • HMRC HM Revenue and Customs
  • JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  • MOD Ministry of Defence
  • NE Natural England
  • PHD Plant Health Division, Defra
  • PHSI Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, Defra
  • SEERAD Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
  • SNH Scottish Natural Heritage
  • SWG Scottish Working Group (on Non-native Species)
  • WAG Welsh Assembly Government
  • WSC Wildlife Species Conservation Division, Defra