The National Trust for Jersey and the States of Jersey are proud to have hosted this years Inter-Island Environment Meeting (IIEM). The meeting took place on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st September 2018 at Crabbé Activity Centre, and was kindly supported by the Howard Davis Farm Trust and the Insurance Corporation.
The purpose of the IIEM is to bring together government bodies, non-governmental organisations, environmental managers and interested individuals across the Channel Islands to learn from each others successes and challenges, share ideas and establish contacts and partnerships. Each year the meeting has a theme, and this year the focus was ‘Environmental Partnership’.
The main objectives for the 2018 IIEM were:
- To discuss the potential for a Channel Island Environmental Charter.
- To provide presentations and field visits focusing on a range of environmental topics relevant to conservation organisations within our Islands, demonstrating the value of collaboration and partnership, with consideration for the challenges that can arise.
- To discuss current and future projects which could effectively be undertaken throughout the Channel Islands.
Conference Proceedings
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Inter-Island Environment Meeting 2018 Programme (downloadable pdf)
Inter-Island Environment Meeting Facebook Page
ITV Report: Channel Islands conservationists gather to discuss how to protect the environment
Presentations
The Jersey National Park – An Island to Cherish
Mike Stentiford MBE
Abstract:
Since the official endorsement and introduction into the Island Plan 2011 of a Jersey (Coastal) National Park, a voluntary interim working group has carried out and completed instructions from the States of Jersey to produce a Master/Action Plan, a brand image and the creation of a fully functional website presence.
Although still in its comparative infancy, the current status of the Jersey National Park is as a registered Charity (Not for Profit Organisation) and as a Company Limited by Guarantee.
The initial objectives behind such a bold concept have been clearly identified and adhered to. These are to robustly protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage within the 2,145 designated hectares of National Park coastline.
Further crucial objectives are to increase and encourage public appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the countless qualities existing within the park’s boundaries. It is also clearly understood that such designation embraces a living, working landscape and that the essential need to cultivate economic and social benefits within its boundaries are of paramount importance.
Jersey’s stunning coastline and its myriad of activities and regular events, is also recognised as a prime marketing tool for the tourist industry – something that a globally recognised ‘National Park’ brand can further assist in promoting in a sustainable yet economically beneficial way.
Despite its limited land mass (16% land area of Jersey), the ‘park’ contains a remarkable range of interests and activities: agriculture, history, heritage and culture, natural environment, sport and recreation plus endless opportunities for marine study and shoreline recreation. A general overview of these ongoing aspirations will be the primary theme of the brief presentation.
Presentation Slides: Mike Stentiford MBE – The Jersey National Park – An Island to Cherish
Website: jerseynationalpark.com
Plastic Free Jersey – Tackling the Issue of Plastic Pollution in an Island Environment
Sheena Brockie, Plastic Free Jersey and local environmental blogger
& Jane Burns, eco active Programme Manager, Natural Environment, States of Jersey
Abstract:
Plastic pollution seems to be the most talked about environmental issue of 2018. The media and programmes like the BBC Blue Planet 2 have created a whole new demographic of people who are passionate about the environment and want to do something to help.
This talk will look at the partnership of Plastic Free Jersey and how individuals, groups and organisations (including businesses) have come together to bring about change.
We will address how we are trying to ride the wave of popular interest in the environment regarding plastic pollution, exploring the implications of focusing on just one issue we will
explore the fine balance of ‘popular and attractive’ environmental issues against some of the less attractive issues that we face. Can we bring these new environmental enthusiasts on a longer and broader environmental journey?
This talk will consider how Plastic Free Jersey works to bring our island community together to reduce our consumption of single use plastics and to remove plastic pollution from our land and marine environments.
The initiative will ultimately lead to certification through the Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Communities programme.
We face the challenge of adhering to a set of nationally agreed criteria whilst remaining and retaining our grassroots and community led ethos.
The talk will consider how we have juggled bringing people on a journey to empower them to take action alongside the importance of remaining in ‘control’ to ensure that the objectives are met. We will also consider equality within partnerships and collectives.
We will explore the role of the States of Jersey as a government and as a local authority and how we can achieve greater results by working closely with the private sector, voluntary organisations and individuals.
We will also look at some of the difficulties that can be faced when working with organisations and individuals with different drivers and motivators.
Presentation Slides: Sheena Brockie & Jane Burns – Plastic Free Jersey – Tackling the Issue of Plastic Pollution in an Island Environment
Website: plasticfreejersey.com
The Pollinator Project
Barry Wells, The Pollinator Project, La Société Guernesiaise
Abstract:
The Pollinator Project is a La Sociéte Guernesiaise initiative and was established by members Vanessa Crispini-Adams and Barry Wells.
The project was launched at The Nature Festival held at Les Cotils, in October, 2017.
Its key aim is to raise awareness of the genuine contribution we can each make to the enhancement of Guernsey’s biodiversity by providing food and habitat for pollinators.
The project was built on a similar philosophy to Chris Packham’s recent ‘Nature Reserves Are Not Enough’ initiative.
While La Société Guernesiaise does invaluable work managing most of Guernsey’s small nature reserve sites, we believe that conservation now needs to integrate into our communities and into the hearts and minds of islanders in a meaningful way if we are to stem the tide of environmental degradation and species loss.
So the core objectives of the Pollinator Project was to form strong and long-term partnerships with government departments, schools, businesses, utility companies, garden centres, community groups and local charities to change the culture of how we manage the land under our care (no matter how small).
Examples of these partnerships include:
Establishing “pollinator patches” in six schools (with more to follow), and over 750 schoolchildren have attended our presentations on pollinators, thus far.
Working with the Environment Department and States Works to create wildflower habitat on highly visible, States owned land such as roundabouts, grass verges, and playing fields, and also working with them to change mowing regimes.
Using a grant from the Channel Island Co-op Eco Fund, to partner with Grow Limited (a charity that helps people with learning and other disabilities) to grow pollinator friendly plants for our projects.
Establishing a partnership with UK organisation BUGLIFE and with plans to run citizen science projects connected to POLLI-NATION national survey of pollinators.
The Pollinator Project Leaflet
Website: pollinatorproject.gg
Biological Records: Underpinning Environmental Decision Making in Jersey
Dr Amy Hall, Manager, Jersey Biodiversity Centre
Abstract:
The importance of biological records cannot be underestimated.
The data collected and stored by Local Records Centres, such as the JBC are used to guide environmental policy and to inform data users of the biodiversity within an area which may be under threat of development.
The centre relies on strong partnerships to make it run successfully i.e. data providers, data users, wildlife NGO’s, local government, researchers, consultants, and the development industry.
Data can be used for countless purposes including research into priority areas for species and for tracking populations of species as they expand or contract their range (be they native or invasive).
Records are best when they are temporally and spatially complete and when they encompass a wide variety of both rare and common taxa. The goal of the JBC is to improve this aspect of our data, and for that we need your help.
We have launched a new data tool this summer, using Indicia as the underlying infrastructure.
Data can be submitted through our website, iRecord or via one of many data entry portals where there are national monitoring programmes such as UKBMS, NPMS or Plant Tracker.
We will demonstrate the functionality of our new website to you, and hope that you will use this to help us gather biological data in Jersey.
Presentation Slides: Dr Amy Hall – Biological Records: Underpinning Environmental Decision Making in Jersey
Website: jerseybiodiversitycentre.org.je
Environmental Partnerships and Collaborations – A UK Perspective
Paul Buckley, SW England Conservation Manager RSPB
Abstract:
This presentation aims to offer a practitioner’s perspective on the current state of environmental partnerships in the UK, and provoke some thinking on what this might mean for the Channel Islands.
The State of Nature reports of 2013 and 2016 highlighted the continuing deterioration in the UK’s biodiversity.
At the same time conditions for conservation have never been more challenging – the various chaos and challenges resulting from Brexit, the continuing low political profile of the environment, weaker government agencies, fundraising challenges and societal kick-back against and changing perceptions of the charitable sector.
The need to focus and prioritise has stimulated deeper efforts to ensure good collaboration. I will highlight for example:
- The State of Nature.
- Greener UK initiative including some innovative advocacy for example between conservation NGOs and landowning sector on future agri-environment.
- Joint landscape scale conservation collaborations and site management initiatives.
- Rethink Nature and Back from the Brink species initiative.
However there is much more to do if we are to use conservation resources to the best effect possible.
Aspirations might include:
- More innovative partnerships for resourcing and funding conservation.
- New and better partnerships between NGOs, Government and the private sector building on experience with the water industry.
- Better use of the genuine wish among communities to help save nature.
- Seemless operation between NGOs – cross representation, sharing resources.
Finally I will consider some risks such as the potential to be seduced into partnerships that suck up resources for little conservation gain and that do not ultimately bear fruit.
Presentation Slides: Paul Buckley Environmental Partnerships and Collaborations – A UK Perspective
Bringing Together Partners
Mrs Catherine Wensink, Executive Director, United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF)
Abstract:
The United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) has been forging partnerships between the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies for over 30 years.
We recognised early the value Crown Dependencies could bring as many are similar in geographic scale to UKOTs and often challenges to biodiversity are shared.
We are a small team, based in the UK, so we encourage partner organisations and others to fill needs beyond our own resources.
We tend to trial new approaches and fill gaps or undertake actions linking work by others to make information and experience available for conservationists in UKOTs, to apply to their conservation needs. We identify these needs with local partners, and initiate and advise on designing and resourcing projects.
Several projects indicate the importance of cross-territory co-operation. This is important as it allows UKOTs and CDs to benefit from the experience of others and identifies common issues to address more cost-effectively, for example so that these may be addressed to UK Government, where relevant.
One way in which we have fostered partnerships is through regional working groups (Wider Caribbean, Southern Ocean and European Territories) which meet several times per year now via Skype. Another is through the organisation of a conference for conservation practitioners every few years. We could outline these in brief, including the one held in Jersey.
An innovation at the most recent 2015 Gibraltar conference was the first meeting of environmental ministers or equivalents of UKOT and CD governments. It was encouraging to see the ministers “taking ownership” of these environmental issues.
At the ministers’ request, we organised a second meeting in Alderney in April 2017, and a third in the Isle of Man in 2018, with a fourth meeting planned for 2019.
Presentation Slides: Catherine Wensink – Bringing Together Partners
Website: www.ukotcf.org.uk
Evaluating the Effectiveness, Socio-Economic Value and Trophic Dynamics of No Mobile Gear Zones in Jersey Territorial Waters
Samantha Blampied, PhD Student, Plymouth University
Abstract:
The aim of this project is to assess the impact of newly established No Mobile Gear Zones (NMGZs) on the socioeconomic value and biodiversity of key habitats within Jersey’s territorial waters.
The assessment will fall into two parts.
Firstly, the ecological parameters of the habitats will be measured through a variety of complementary methods, including towed video, experimental potting, baited remote underwater video (BRUV) grabs and diver surveys.
Secondly, the socioeconomic value of the habitats will be assessed through literature reviews and by apportioning landings values to habitats based on the life histories of commercial species and the habitats on which they depend.
This PhD is funded by Blue Marine Foundation and is supervised by both Plymouth University and the States of Jersey Marine Resources team including the Marine Biology Section of the Société Jersiaise.
This PhD forms part of a wider project being carried out by Blue Marine Foundation and the results will be compared to similar studies being carried out elsewhere in the UK.
The results from this study will also feed into future marine management in Jersey waters.
Presentation Slides: Samantha Blampied – Evaluating the Effectiveness, Socio-Economic Value and Trophic Dynamics of No Mobile Gear Zones in Jersey Territorial Waters
Herm Ramsar Management Plan, The Story So Far…
Alex Herschel, Marine Ecologist and Environmental Sustainability Manager at Guernsey Electricity
Abstract:
In October 2016 the islands of Herm, Jethou and the Humps, in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, became designated as a Ramsar site (the ‘Herm Ramsar Site’).
The site was designated as it contains wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention.
The primary purpose of the designation is to maintain the ecological character and promote wise use of this 1,803 hectare (ha) of wetland habitat.
The Ramsar Convention requires that a Ramsar management plan is ‘developed by its stakeholders to ensure a balance of viewpoints and expertise to enable the decision-making process and to
ensure future development of the site maintains all the values for which the site is important’.
This is no small task, and as such, the journey so far has been a long one; a journey that started in 2014 when the Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services (ACLMS) department within States of Guernsey, with support from the RSPB in the UK and local stakeholders, embarked on the data collation and designation application process.
Jump forward 4 years and the site now has a Ramsar Management Plan and the support of a working Ramsar Management Group, made up of local stakeholders including States of Guernsey agencies, scientific researchers, nature conservation organisations, interest groups, recreational operators, and community members.
This paper serves to tell the latest chapters of this story, with an overarching theme being collaboration, cooperation, dedication, and determination.
Presentation Slides: Alex Herschel – Herm Ramsar Management Plan – The Story So Far…
The Role of Seasearch Citizen Science in the Designation and Management of UK MPAs
Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, Principal Specialist, Marine Protected Areas, Marine Conservation Society
& Dr Charlotte Bolton, National Coordinator, Seasearch
Abstract:
Whilst the UK has been embarking on a massive development of Marine Protected Area (MPA) designations, from 3 such sites in the 1980s to over 297 now, we’ve been diving to provide the information to underpin such designation.
For over 30 years Seasearch has been training and recording with a unique (for Europe) group of dedicated volunteer divers, amassing over 750,000 species and habitats records –making it the second largest marine dataset in the National Biodiversity Network – all of which are publicly available for download and use.
Emerging from the groundbreaking JNCC project ‘Mermaid’ (or the Marine Nature Conservation Review) that came to a halt in 1998, it has provided 2 distinct roles:
- in engaging and utilizing a network of amateur naturalists to collect data that is validated and inputted to ‘Marine Recorder’ to provide a picture of biodiversity unmatched in shallow nearshore habitats.
- to then be used for MPA designation and management.
In 2010, it was Seasearch data that provided the evidence for many key reef sites in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall to be designated, whilst bespoke Seasearch projects to record crawfish and pink seafans have had success in illustrating key distributions of species that are surrogates for over-fishing and habitat protection.
We’ve been active in the protection and remediation of seagrass beds (recording the impact of eco-moorings), helped with geo-referencing vulnerable maerl distributions in Falmouth and Jersey, and influenced local campaigns to protect the rich Manacles MCZ in southern Cornwall.
Data makes a difference, and when citizens are involved in that collection, it is all the more powerful.
Presentation Slides: Dr. Jean-Luc Solandt & Dr. Charlotte Bolton – The Role of Seasearch Citizen Science in the Designation and Management of UK MPAs
Website: www.seasearch.org.uk
Marine Spatial Planning: An Atlas and Study of Ecology & Human Activities in Jersey Waters
Chantelle De Gruchy, States of Jersey & University of York
Abstract:
This study is the culmination of a Master of Science project at the University of York with the research being undertaken during a placement with the States of Jersey Marine Resources section in 2015.
Jersey’s coastline and reefs provide a haven for marine life and an arena for watersports and fishing enthusiasts. However, ocean resource conflicts arise on a small island with many coastal users. Marine spatial planning (MSP) can be utilised to manage ocean space and resources.
High intensity use areas can be determined by identifying marine use patterns. Moreover, marine habitat mapping is an integral part of ecosystem-based management and the combination of habitat mapping and human activity use data can be used in MSP.
The States of Jersey are developing a Marine Spatial Plan within which a knowledge gap was identified. No significant data on marine recreational activities have been collected and so this study examined the spatial distribution, intensity and frequency of recreational fishing and watersports activities in Jersey.
A Participatory Geographic Information System approach enabled spatial data collection of activity locations. This approach could be used in other islands, thereby contributing to a larger marine spatial plan.
4295 coordinates of fishing and watersport activity locations were gathered and heat maps of grouped activities were created in ESRI’s ArcMap. Areas of conflict were illustrated and locations of grouped shore fishing activities were intersected with threatened habitat data.
An accompanying survey captured local marine knowledge and environmental opinions to better inform MSP. This included questions on perceptions of marine stocks, marine habitat awareness, marine protection, motivations for leisure fishing and the quantity of marine species caught non-commercially.
Ultimately, MSP which incorporates resource use, local knowledge, zoning, extensive habitat and species baseline data will be used to inform the management of Jersey’s marine environment for future generations.
Internship – Working with Professional Volunteers
Roland Gauvain, CEO, Alderney Wildlife Trust
& Claire Thorpe, People and Wildlife Officer, Alderney Wildlife Trust
Abstract:
Since 2005 the Alderney Wildlife Trust has hosted over 50 long term voluntary internships or work placements.
Given the resources of the island the Trust has become dependent on this unpaid, professional, workforce to bolster its dedicated on island volunteers and few paid staff, now enabling an organisation with only 2 paid staff generate around 20,000 hours of effort per annum.
Yet is this mechanism sustainable or even appropriate?
This presentation will attempt to describe the infrastructure of internship within the Trust and look at the positives and negative aspects of becoming dependant on voluntary labour.
Presentation Slides: Roland Gauvain & Claire Thorpe – Internship – Working with Professional Volunteers
Working Towards an Invasive Species Strategy for Jersey
Scott Meadows, Head of Plant Health, Natural Environment, States of Jersey
Abstract:
This presentation outlines how Jersey currently deals with Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS).
It recommends that the island adopts the approach the UK Government has taken, culminating in the release of the Great Britain Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy, and sets out a detailed justification of the steps necessary for Jersey to achieve this.
The preparation of a final Jersey INNS Strategy, aligned to the GB INNS Strategy, will result from implementing the phased Action Plan. Key to this will be developing a partnership with the relevant stakeholders and agreeing a co-ordinated approach to the threat posed by INNS to the natural environment, human health and economy.
Presentation Slides: Scott Meadows – Working Towards an Invasive Species Strategy for Jersey
The Seabird Project – Networking to Deliver Coastal Conservation
Cristina Sellarés, Birds on the Edge Project Officer, The National Trust for Jersey
Abstract:
During the 2018 seabird breeding season an intensive monitoring effort was carried out in the North Coast of Jersey focusing on three fronts: the small colonies of auks (puffins and razorbills), predator presence and human activity.
This is the first of a three-year period of research into the declines of seabird species in Jersey, and especially the puffins and other auks.
The main objective of this project is to produce and implement monitoring guidelines and management techniques that will allow the seabird populations to recover in a safe and suitable environment.
This work relies strongly on the co-operation between many organisations, individuals and the community as a whole.
This talk will present the results of the first season of monitoring and discuss the future challenges and new partnerships.
Website: www.birdsontheedge.org
Posters
Life on the rock; Alderney’s Gannet Population
Alderney Wildlife Trust
Abstract:
The Northern Gannet is one of Alderney’s most iconic seabird species that breed on two rocky islets, Les Etacs and Ortac.
Since the mid 1900s, population counts have been performed on both of these colonies to assess changes in population size.
Such monitoring is important to allow the observation of long term population trends and to contribute to international datasets, which revealed a 70% decline in global seabird abundance in the past 60 years.
This poster summarises the last Gannet population count performed in 2015 and the subsequent results and analysis, currently in review for Seabird, the Journal of the Seabird Group.
Poster: Alderney Wildlife Trust – Life on the Rock: Alderney’s Gannet Population
Federation – NGOs working within the larger context
Alderney Wildlife Trust
Abstract:
The Alderney Wildlife Trust is the youngest and smallest member of the federation of British Wildlife Trust, collectively known as The Wildlife Trusts.
With 46 independent NGOs collaborating within a Memorandum of Co-operation, TWT represents one of the most diverse nature conservation organisations within the British Isles.
The scale of the federation creates opportunities and difficulties, with Trust’s as diverse as Alderney (representing a population of 2,000) working with and alongside the Scottish Wildlife
Trust (Population 5 million).
The poster attempts to unpick the structure of the TWT and discuss how such a collaborative body works within the Channel Island context.
Poster: Alderney Wildlife Trust – Federation – NGOs working within the larger context
Delving the deep: the development of the Alderney Seasearch Snorkel Group
Dr. Charlotte Bolton, National Seasearch Co-ordinator, Marine Conservation Society
& Dr. Mel Broadhurst-Allen, Living Seas Coordinator, Alderney Wildlife Trust
Abstract:
Little quantitative ecological evidence exists within Alderney’s marine shallow waters.
As such, in 2017, the Alderney Snorkel Seasearch Group was developed in collaboration with the Alderney Wildlife Trust, Seasearch and Sea-Changers. The aim of this citizen science project is to train locally based snorkellers to record Alderney’s marine habitats and species, following Seasearch recording methods.
Approximately 10 snorkellers have joined the group and started recording marine life across the island.
For 2018, the aim is to investigate the island’s eelgrass and kelp habitats, whilst encouraging other snorkellers to join the group.
Jersey Biodiversity Partnership (JBP)
Nina Cornish, Natural Environment, States of Jersey
Abstract:
The Jersey Biodiversity Partnership is an informal partnership of organisations, environmental groups and individuals who take a practical interest in Jersey’s natural environment via research projects, surveys, conservation management activities or environmental campaigns.
The JBP actively encourages more groups or volunteers to join who are interested in preserving and enhancing biodiversity in Jersey.
The overall aim of the Jersey Biodiversity Partnership is “To protect, conserve and enhance the variety of wildlife species and habitats in Jersey.
The partners who sign up agree to support an integrated approach to conservation and protecting Jersey’s biodiversity by improving the flow communication and resources, promoting awareness, encouraging public participation and support partner organisation in their legal and other responsibilities.
Poster: Nina Cornish – Jersey Biodiversity Partnership
Jersey Access Forum
Julia Meldrum, Natural Environment, States of Jersey
Abstract:
Historically there has been little communication between service users and service providers.
A lack of an umbrella organisation bringing together groups and organisations which have an interest in managing Jersey’s network of paths and a change in recreational activities since the paths were created requires better lines of communication between interested parties.
A Key Action of the Countryside Access Strategy 2016 is to create two independent groups to provide a means to communicate thoughts, ideas and solutions for the improvement of access to the Jersey countryside; one to be for users, Jersey Access Forum (JAF), the other for providers and landowners, Jersey Access Service Providers (JASP).
The purpose of these two groups is to work together to deliver the access strategy and to assist in developing an improved network of paths and tracks for the benefit of Jersey’s society whilst reducing risk and potential conflict between the different user groups.
It is also essential to ensure Sites of Special Interests and semi-natural sites are protected from inappropriate use and to minimise disturbance to sensitive habitats.
Poster: Julia Meldrum – Jersey Access Forum
Returning Red-billed Choughs to Jersey: How Stakeholders Can Influence the Success of a Project
Elizabeth Corry, Chough re-introduction Field Manager & Senior Keeper (birds), Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Abstract:
Red billed choughs have been reintroduced into Jersey after a one-hundred-year absence.
Between 2013 and 2018 Jersey Zoo carried out five soft-releases of captive-bred juveniles reared at Jersey Zoo and Paradise Park, Cornwall.
In 2015, the first wild-hatched chick fledged from a nest site in Ronez quarry. We highlight how a close working partnership with Ronez quarry has been crucial to the breeding success and population growth of Jersey’s free-living choughs.
Choughs are a flagship species for Birds On The Edge, a partnership between Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, National Trust for Jersey, and the States of Jersey.
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