L'Eree headland gains Ramsar recognition

AN AREA of wetland around L'Eree has been recognised internationally. The 426-hectare site encompasses Lihou, La Claire Mare and Colin Best nature reserves and the intertidal area.

It is more than two years since it was announced Guernsey was planning to apply for designation under the UN Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, or Ramsar convention.

The site contains shingle banks, marshes, reed beds and saline lagoons with a variety of seabirds, wildflowers and marine organisms.

Environment minister Bernard Flouquet said he was pleased that an area of local wetland would be so recognised.

'Designation elevates the status of the site to that of international importance, bringing special notice to the environmental, cultural and heritage aspects of the area,' he added.

'This recognition provides a focal point for new education, tourism and environmental initiatives which contribute to the long-term conservation and wise use of that particular site and other wetland areas.'

UK biodiversity minister Jim Knight announced the designation.

'The UK has a proud record of designating more Ramsar sites than any other country and the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories are home to particularly valuable and internationally-important wetland habitats,' said Mr Knight.

'Guernsey is a worthy member of this group.'

L'Eree is the 166th Ramsar site in the British Isles. Alderney's west coast and Burhou were designated last year.

La Societe Guernesiaise was involved with the application and president Charles David welcomed the news.

'The site has some of the largest and most important intertidal areas in western Europe, the size being due to Guernsey having a 10-metre tidal range, one of the largest in the world.' He added that the land, including wet meadows, was also very rich.

'Some of the best orchid fields in the Channel Islands can be admired at La Claire Mare nature reserve.

'This area is also very rich in insect species, some not found elsewhere in the Channel Islands.'

The reed beds are very important for bird life.

'Salt marshes are very threatened habitats in the Channel Islands and those found at the Colin Best nature reserve and on Lihou are among the best fragments of such habitat remaining.'

Several Red Data Book species, the existence of which is threatened, are found on the site.

To celebrate the designation, Guernsey Post has commissioned a set of six stamps, which should be released in July.

They feature images of animals and flora found at the site.

'The illustrations are beautiful and include real Guernsey images, such as the ormer,' said Guernsey Philatelic Bureau head Sally Diamond.

The stamps were designed by wildlife illustrator Wendy Bramall.

n The UN Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.

It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

There are currently 150 contracting parties to the convention, with 1,590 sites totalling 134m. hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar list.

Visit www.ramsar.org.