Many projects address the threats to nature
ENVIRONMENTAL and student research projects have been awarded funding from the Strategy for Nature Fund.
A total of £40,000 has been awarded, covering a range of projects including the restoration of dune grassland, enhancement of school grounds for nature, replacement barn owl boxes and support for La Societe’s conservation herd.
‘The number of applications increased this year which reflects people’s desire to support Guernsey’s natural environment and it was particularly pleasing to receive applications from schools wanting to connect children with nature,’ said Angela Salmon, the Nature Commission’s head of operations and education.
‘But having so many applications comes with its own difficulties as decisions needed to be made on which of the fantastic projects would receive funding.’
Four bursaries have also been awarded for research projects. These include projects to compare plant-pollinator networks and to research conservation grazing.
Each applicants’ project also needed to address one or more of the threats to the local natural environment as reported in the recently published State of Nature 2024 report. These threats include invasive species, pollution, lack of land management, climate change and gaps in knowledge and understanding.
This is the second year that the Nature Commission has worked in partnership with Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services to administer the Strategy for Nature Fund.
Senior natural environment officer Julia Henney said that since it was first established in 2020, the Strategy for Nature Fund had enabled a wide range of community and charitable projects.
‘We were really excited to see such a range of projects and research applications submitted in this funding round,’ she said.
‘The work of these projects is essential to help deliver the Strategy for Nature’s aims of learning more about our environment, enhancing biodiversity and engaging with the local community.
‘This year we have been especially pleased to see so many projects which are helping to address the threats to nature, which have been outlined in the State of Nature report.’
