The annual meeting brings together environmentalists, conservationists, and environmentally-minded organisations, with a different island hosting each year. Guernsey last hosted an in-person meeting in 10 years ago, and hosted the 2020 meeting online.
As part of this meeting, which finishes today, delegates had the option of a visit to Lihou Island to explore the important Ramsar site or go on a guided walk of Candie Gardens.
‘Every IIEM has a field trip, and here we have put one on to explore our first Ramsar site, and it’s quite nice because this one has been a dedicated Ramsar site for 20 years this year,’ said Nature Commission CEO Jessi Jennings.
‘When the IIEM first came about there was no field trip, but it’s great because the different islands wanted to show off what we have, and here we have so much natural beauty it’s great to showcase that.
‘Also it breaks up the conference, and so much of what we talk about we can then see in practice.’
The Lihou tour was followed by a beach clean in collaboration with the Clean Earth Trust.
More than 100 delegates attended over the course of the conference, and some of them spoke about how impressive Guernsey’s natural environment is. Ms Jennings said that getting to catch up with colleagues from Jersey, Alderney and other regions is one of the strengths of the meeting.
‘It’s a great networking event, because everyone is so passionate about nature and the environment that it’s part of our personal lives as well as professional lives,’ she said.
‘There is such a variety of speakers, but it’s great that no matter the subject the speakers passions don’t change so much. A big thank you to our primary sponsor Orsted and the States for their support.’
The event ends today with a schools’ event where students will have the chance to give presentations.
‘The theme is Nature for the Next Generation, so it was important for us to have the voice of young people in the conference,’ said Ms Jennings.
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