Environmental charter in Future Guernsey plan
A FUTURE Guernsey Plan contains initiatives to help fulfil terms of an environmental charter signed by Environment & Infrastructure.
An committee spokesman said the plan contained a number of priorities that States had agreed to, which will help protect and enhance the environment.
‘As part of these priorities, Environment and Infrastructure is mandated, in partnership with other States committees, to implement the meeting Guernsey’s energy needs and mitigating climate change priorities.
‘In addition to this, there are a number of strategies, policies and programmes already in place that will meet the aspirations of the Blue Islands Environmental Charter that was signed.’
The charter was signed at this year’s inter-island environmental meeting, hosted by Alderney, and aims to protect the environment of island communities.
Deputy Barry Brehaut, president of E&I, was one of a number of representatives
to sign including those from Alderney, Gibraltar, Jersey, Montserrat, Sark and Tristan da Cunha.
The E&I spokesman said the biodiversity strategy, commissioned by the former Environment Department and prepared in consultation with the biodiversity project group had delivered a number of initiatives already.
These include the Pollinator Project which aims to conserve pollinating insects, the island-wide habitat survey to measure changes to areas that support wildlife, a Ramsar management plan for Herm to support wise and sustainable
use of wetlands, and the BioBlitz which, held for the first time in May of this year, engaged with schools and the public to highlight the importance of biodiversity.
They also said the integrated transport strategy was promoting active travel such as walking and cycling and providing public electric vehicle charging stations.
Guiding principles of the Blue Islands Charter.
The Blue Islands Environmental Charter lists guiding principles for the protection of the island communities. It said threats to the ocean are intrinsically linked to human activity in island nations. The 10 principles are to:
1. Control and reduce negative impacts of island activities on the environment.
2. Control risks associated with activities on the island.
3. Promote a rationale of continuous environmental improvement.
4. Factor the environment into every day practices.
5. Move towards a complete ban on single-use plastic entering the island, in particular the marine environment.
6. Increase knowledge in order to improve and communicate.
7. Contribute to development of scientific knowledge of island marine environments.
8. Support other islands through open communication and education.
9. Protect native, terrestrial and marine species and habitats, and enhance biodiversity.
10. Enhance terrestrial and marine natural environments.
