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A new independent charity has launched, to work across the public, private and third sector enhancing Guernsey’s natural environment while promoting biodiversity.
The announcement came last week after two years of preparatory work, and now non-executive directors are being sought to join the Guernsey Nature Commission’s board.
Its key aims are to provide a shared voice for nature through a collaborative approach, support the third sector by raising community awareness of climate change, economic resilience, health, and wellbeing, and organise and promote citizen science.
It's envisaged to act as a funding vehicle through which business can contribute to the environment’s health.
GNC was conceived by the Guernsey Community Foundation to help deliver the States’ Strategy for Nature objectives, with £150,000 committed for three years, as well as two-year grant of £100,000 from the Social Investment Fund.
The Environment & Infrastructure Committee, which holds the political mandate for the Strategy for Nature, has also committed £300,000 over the coming years.
Pictured: GNC will ramp up activities throughout this year.
The three current directors – Chair Fiona Bateson, ex-Bailiff Sir Richard Collas, and Jim Roberts – are all Foundation board members, and they would like to hear from prospective candidates to join the Commission’s board so the Foundation can take a step back.
The new board can then recruit a CEO and additional staff members.
Ms Bateson said GNC will make a “major contribution” to the promotion of biodiversity and “ensure that consideration for the natural environment informs decisions taken by government and business.
“We want to act as an enabler and a champion, building on the substantial contributions made by existing green charities and amplifying a collective Voice for Nature.”
She encouraged prospective directors to get in touch: “The next step is to build out the board and recruit a Chair who will, in time, take over from me. If you have some time to give and a passion for promoting Guernsey’s natural environment, we would like to hear from you”.
Speaking as chair of the Guernsey Community Foundation, Sir Richard Collas said: “We began work on the Nature Commission in late 2020, which gives an idea of the scale and ambition of this project.
“As a standalone charity that will work with government, business and charities – and of course the public – we think the Commission is uniquely positioned to channel a growing desire across the community to protect and enhance Guernsey’s precious natural environment.”
Pictured: The Guernsey Nature Commission was officially launched last week. Credit: Chris George.
Jurat Stephen Jones OBE, Chair of the Social Investment Fund, said the new initiative would be invaluable for improving the natural environment and educating the community.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, expressed excitement after two years of work to get the charity off the ground, and said the funding would prove more efficient to achieve mandated objectives within the natural environment.
Potential candidates for a directorship should contact Mr Roberts at jim@foundation.gg for further details.
Pictured (top): (L-R) Jim Roberts, Sir Richard Collas, Fiona Bateson. Credit: Chris George.
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