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A biodiversity strategy for the northern isle has been expanded to include food production and other natural resources, with Alderney residents invited to comment on the plans.
The States of Alderney said the important of food supply resilience and agriculture had led it to beef up the strategy, which also focuses on species-rich grasslands, woodland, wetlands, coastal and marine environments, and the threats to each.
The draft strategy – a 28-page document published this week – includes guidance on how to connect the community with nature, promoting and enhancing natural resources, and improving knowledge to inform decision making.
A similar strategy was approved in Guernsey in 2020 and has a bearing on planning applications when biodiversity may be lost due to development. It also encourages engagement with nature through third sector groups.
Alderney’s States says its version would “offer strategic guidance for work programmes and operational-level activities on States Land as well as the benefits to tourism, public wellbeing, heritage and scientific research”.
Recommendations include centralised reporting on States Works initiatives, waste management including plastics, Channel Island Bird-Ringing Scheme monitoring, Alderney Wildlife Trust work programmes and the Alderney Bird Observatory.
A four-week public consultation period opened on Thursday, which includes a drop-in at the Island Hall’s Anne French Room on 28 February between 10:00 and 14:00.
Pictured: Alderney residents will have a month to respond to the draft strategy.
All feedback submitted will be considered by the General Services Committee at its March meeting before the full report debated by the States of Alderney May.
Committee Chair Lin Maurice said: “The focus is on food production and food sustainability as well as providing a framework to help safeguard our amazing natural environment.
“It encourages people not only to grow their own fruit and vegetables where possible, but also for everyone to be a citizen scientist. With climate change, new and different flora and fauna will most likely appear and so people that are gardeners, or have hobbies such as fishing, bird watching or just walking the cliff paths, will be the first to find new species of plants or a creature that they may not recognise.
“Accompanying this new strategy will be a register of endangered and rare species and noxious plants which can be adjusted as they are discovered. Without the involvement of these citizen scientists, new species could be missed.”
Feedback can be submitted online, or hardcopy forms are available at the Island Hall General Office as well as at the public drop-in.
You can view the draft strategy HERE.
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