Protection of the foreshore is welcomed
COMMON and heathland protection is critically important, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds conservation manager has said, as he welcomes moves in Guernsey to offer planning protection to the foreshore for the first time.
Paul Buckley was speaking at the inter-island environment meeting, a two-day summit which finishes today.
He said it was great to hear the island had included foreshore protection as part of the Island Development Plan.
'The Channel Islands are heavily populated and some original habitats have been modified,' he said.
'From our perspective, the marine environment and sea birds are very important. You get wintering birds, the wading birds, and they are very important too.
'The common and heathland are critical and it is good to hear about the enhanced protection.
'The key now is the good management of the areas, the reinstatement of grazing. It is important to get this back, this management.'
If IDP recommendations are adopted when the States debates them on Wednesday 12 October, the foreshore will become protected under planning law and designated an area of biodiversity importance.
