The Herpetological Conservation Trust (HCT) and Froglife merged in July 2009, forming a single strong conservation NGO. The new organisation is called the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and will continue the range of activities currently undertaken by Froglife and the HCT, while providing a stronger basis for conserving amphibians and reptiles in the future. ARC will continue HCT's membership of UKOTCF. In the UK, Overseas Territories and Europe, ARC is committed to ensuring that new legislation and policy-decisions fit the needs of wildlife, particularly amphibians and reptiles. They work towards influencing policy relating to agriculture, habitat conservation, wise water-use and planning. While being based in the UK, ARC has a global remit. Their main area of interest outside of the UK is promoting reptile and amphibian conservation in Europe and the UK's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

HCT has undertaken work in the UK Crown Dependencies. This has included a great deal of work in Jersey: surveying and monitoring species, habitat management work and providing conservation advice for the agile frog and green lizard; supporting the development of the action plan for the agile frog, making good links with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and promoting survey through the National Amphibian and Reptile Survey on Jersey and the Isle of Man. HCT also produced a draft Action Plan for the Bermuda skink Plestiodon longirostris and has attended three UKOTCF-organised Conferences.

With the financial support of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the HCT initiated a complete species inventory and overview of conservation and research priorities for the amphibians and reptiles in the territories. A working document has been produced (dated March 2009) and is available to download >>.

ARC is now working actively to further develop involvement in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and will take forward the completion of this document.

We have a link to our Overseas Territories work at:
:http://www.arc-trust.org/europe/overseas.php though this can be found fairly easily from our home page.

Website: www.arc-trust.org
Contact: tony.gent@arc-trust.org

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The British Ecological Society (BES) has been a member of the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum for many years, with many members of the Society actively engaged in research in the UKOTs. The BES is the UK's learned society for ecology and a registered charity. Established in 1913, we have approximately 4,000 members worldwide. To progress our vision of 'advancing ecology and making it count' the Society undertakes a range of activities, supported by a small secretariat based in central London. The Society publishes five internationally recognised, high impact factor scientific journals. The BES organises two large scientific meetings each year, along with a number of smaller workshops and events facilitated by our Special Interest Groups, and dispenses around £500,000 per year in grants to support ecological science and scientists. The Society's Education Officer works directly with teachers to develop resources for schools, communicating the excitement of ecology, and the importance of field work, from primary school level upwards. The BES also has an active voice in science policy, responding to consultations, organising workshops and events and providing briefings to policy-makers, working to ensure that policy is made of the basis of sound scientific evidence. Where appropriate, the Society actively seeks partnerships, including with the UKOTCF, to deliver our aims effectively.

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The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland celebrated its Centenary year in 2009 by strengthening our charitable objects of Conservation, Education and Research within Scotland and overseas. The UKOTs and CDs are an increasingly high priority for us in our UK and global conservation agenda. With historical connections since the Society’s inception with the South Atlantic region it is inevitable that we have retained that focus particularly with the Falkland Islands but more recently collaborating with the community of Tristan da Cunha.

Membership of the UKOTCF has helped to reinforce these links but also introduced us to other Territories, communities and agencies with individual or cross cutting issues. The Society, through its living collections at Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park is also able to connect with over 750,000 visitors each year, communicating the value, fragility and importance of the UK’s “Fragments of Paradise”.

Our mission is: 'To inspire and excite our visitors with the wonder of living animals, and so to promote the conservation of threatened species and habitats.'

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The Royal Air Force Ornithological Society was formed in 1965 with the aim of bringing together all those members and ex-members of the RAF interested in ornithology. RAFOS has an internationally renowned reputation, specialising in expeditions to remote locations. RAFOS has undertaken formal studies on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Scottish Natural Heritage, Bird Life International, the Cyprus Conservation Foundation, the Italian League for Bird Protection and Birds Australia.

Reports on all expeditions and field study are held in the RAFOS Library and are available for academic research. RAFOS publishes a regular Newsletter and a Scientific Journal.

Qualified Ringing study is undertaken in association with the BTO and follows its principles. Ringing is also undertaken on expeditions and field study where appropriate, assisting local projects. The Society supports ringing training and has a dedicated ringing co-ordinator.

RAFOS is always keen to contribute to bird study and conservation projects in Overseas Territories. Please contact the Field Activities Liaison Officer though the RAFOS Web-site

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