Alderney Bird Observatory pulls out of Ramsar site
THE Alderney Bird Observatory and the Channel Islands Bird Ringing Scheme have pulled out as stakeholders in the island’s Ramsar site over a long-running argument about 'misinformation' in the protected area’s original set-up.
ABO’s outgoing warden John Horton said that it had independently written to the States of Alderney and the Ramsar managers, saying that it was concerned about the legitimacy and credibility of the Ramsar application, and was stepping down until it was resolved.
‘The Alderney Wildlife Trust are the managers of the Ramsar programme,’ he said.
‘Therein has been the issue, the ongoing mismanagement of the Ramsar programme to suit their organisation. Nobody wants to see Ramsar ended, but we want to see actually a legitimate Ramsar that protects the right areas and right species.’
The complaints focus on a number of alleged inaccuracies in the original application for the Ramsar site in 2005.
‘When I saw the original 2000 application, I was flabbergasted to see what was in it,’ Mr Horton said.
‘The application was entirely unrealistic, and the sources that it claimed backed up the evidence or verified it actually didn’t exist.’
He raised concerns about seagrass claims. The plants are important for biodiversity and capturing carbon dioxide.
‘45% of the whole Ramsar area is supposed to be covered in seagrass,’ he said.
‘Seagrass only grows in shallow water and in very weak tides, and it’s been claimed it’s growing in one of the fastest and most dangerous tides on earth. Frankly, you’ve got more chance of finding roses growing on the moon.’
Former Alderney States member Lin Maurice, who was until recently chaired the Alderney’s General Service Committee, shares Mr Horton’s concerns, especially with the amount of money local government had given to the AWT for the area’s management.
She said that black-legged kittiwakes had been listed in the original application with a population of 15 pairs.
‘In reality the last official recorded sighting of kittiwakes in the proposed Ramsar site was in 1987.'
AWT chief executive Roland Gauvain acknowledged the points around seagrass and kittiwakes were valid, but said this had been looked into by an independent group of experts, whose conclusions had been agreed by the States of Alderney.
‘When the Ramsar application was put in there was almost no records for the island, and there was very little resource,’ he said.
‘The continuation of these complaints seven months after they were refuted by the independent review by the Alderney Ramsar Advisory Group, and with all the effort to try and build bridges, really is somewhat soul destroying.’
He said the complainants seem to have an almost 'pathological dislike' of both the island’s Ramsar site and the trust.
‘We don’t exactly know why, and despite attempts to engage and work through their issues they have refused to respond,’ he said.
‘They have also both refused to acknowledge the findings of the independent review into the accusations made.
‘This is a huge shame, as many generous volunteers and organisations including the AWT, Alderney Animal Welfare Society, RSPB and many more, have put a lot of time, effort and pride into Alderney’s internationally important marine wetland site. This effort is because we recognise that it not only is truly important for our island in terms of richness of wildlife, but also in the huge amount of interest in the island, as well as direct tourism.’
