Dear Colleagues,

We have this week submitted our final list of invertebrate species to the BAP Priority Review Group.  The spreadsheet detailing the list submitted is attached for information.  The list will be formally published, I'm not entirely sure when, but after further work has been done to identify what sort of conservation action is needed and how such action/s might be grouped.  This represents a shift in emphasis in the way BAP work will be delivered this time around; a move towards better integration of conservation action across taxa and across habitats.

The invert BAP working group has started to do some work, using the information provided on the pro formae, plus any additional info. we know about, to draw out key needs/messages.  The sort of things we are looking at are a combination of 'things' e.g. is the species widespread or only known from one or a few sites?  Are particular habitat features common to a number of taxa?  Are there groups of species affected by climate change? invasive species? pollutants etc.  On this last point, we are keen to develop more inclusive plans that deal with some of the big issues; like climate change, and put in examples of species we know will a) be affected and b) will act as indicators.

At some stage we will need to consult more widely on the work we (the Invert BAP WG) have done and hope to be able, once again, to draw on the considerable knowledge and experience of the invertebrate conservation community to get the BAP process working even better than before to deliver conservation gain.

Thank you again for your great help in making this process possible.

All best wishes,

Deborah Procter (JNCC) & Nigel Bourn (Butterfly Conservation)

Co-chairs of the Invertebrate BAP Working Group