Date: 17 October 2008

Our ref: Ref: SW/360

Your ref:

Ms Susan Davis

By Email: [FOI #3183 email]

Dear Ms Davis

Access to Information Request - Provision of all requested information - RFI 360

Thank you for your request for “for information about Natural Englands approach to species level taxonomy”.which was received on 25 September 2008. Your request has been considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

In order to maintain a consistent approach to species taxonomy, Natural England relies upon the advice of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, which maintains a coordinating function across the three country nature conservation bodies - Natural England, the Countryside Council for Wales, and Scottish Natural Heritage. This approach allows Natural England to focus its resources on the conservation action needed to halt biodiversity loss, rather than replicating the important work on scientific nomenclature which all three country agencies rely upon in carrying out their functions.

The JNCC's advice, and any changes we adopt to scientific nomenclature, follows the National Biological Network species dictionary for all taxonomic groups. This is maintained by the Natural History Museum and can be accessed at http://nbn.nhm.ac.uk/nhm/. This link will take you to the Natural History Museum's web page, which will provide you with contact details should you wish any further information on the processes for amending and updating the Species Dictionary.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, please contact:

Darren Green, Senior Specialist Information Access and Security,

Natural England, Block B, Government Buildings, Whittington, WORCESTER WR5 2LQ

Email: [email address]

Tel: 01905 763355

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Tom Tew

Chief Scientist

Natural England

Northminster House

Northminster Road

PETERBOROUGH

PE1 1UA

T: 01733 455000