A Report on the Condition of Jersey's Environment January 2005
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The State of Jersey A report on the condition of Jersey’s environment January 2005 Our natural environment is more precious - and fleeting - than any of us Foreword truly realise. In Jersey, we are particularly well blessed to live on an island of such breathtaking natural beauty - but that splendour brings with it an onerous responsibility. It is our collective duty to make sure we preserve and enhance our natural environment for future generations. The quality of our environment is absolutely fundamental to our lives - often in ways that we aren’t aware of until it’s too late. We must all play a part in ensuring that together we make decisions that give equal weight to long-term environmental, social and economic issues. With our small size and our affluent, well-educated population, we have a unique opportunity to show the world that economic and environmental success can work together; if we can’t work it out, nobody will. “The State of Jersey” is truly a landmark document that draws a line in the sand for our shared Island environment. Senator P. Ozouf January 2005 Executive Summary ‘The State of Jersey’ A Report on the Condition of Jersey’s Environment January 2005 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This is a summary of the first ever ‘State of the Environment Report’ for Jersey. We have outlined our current Introduction and future responsibilities towards the Island’s environment, categorizing them into twelve ‘environmental perspectives’. Using these perspectives, we have identified five ‘environmental priorities’ and the key actions needed to address them - and examined how we can best monitor our progress in doing so. To successfully assist change and achieve the key actions we have outlined six ‘guiding principles’ (Figure 1). One of the key aims of the Strategic Plan for Jersey of 2005-10 is to protect the natural environment. Whilst welcoming economic growth, the strategic plan recognises that “the pressures placed upon the Island’s infrastructure and the effect that these changes have on the environment are acknowledged as consequences of economic growth. These are managed by the introduction of government policies designed to minimise the impact of this growth and help to enhance the existing environment.” The “State of Jersey” is a foundation for a cohesive environmental strategy for the Island - and a gauge with which to measure environmental policy henceforth. The statutory responsibility for environmental protection lies with the Government, but to be successful in protecting and improving our natural environment, we all need to live our lives in an environmentally accountable manner. There are many ways to look at and categorise the environment. We have chosen to consider the environment Environmental from its broadest (global) to smallest (individual) perspective. perspectives for Jersey Imagine that you are seeing Jersey from space in its global position; as you approach the earth, you see the Island-wide level, moving ever closer until you eventually land and are able to assess the physical and biological environment at first hand. This is a useful approach that allows us to consider both our overall ecological position in the world and individual factors specific to our Island. Scale ~ Global 1. Climate change There is increasing evidence that man-made emissions are accelerating global climate change. Locally, this will affect sea defences, water resource availability, disrupt ecosystems and alter conditions for agriculture and human health. Executive Summary 2. Air quality Although air quality in Jersey is generally good, pollution can arise locally from traffic congestion and from the ageing incinerator at Bellozanne and from further afield via long range transportation processes. Poor air quality can adversely affect ecosystems and human health. 3. Jersey’s position in contributing to global biodiversity Jersey’s position makes it an important refuge for many species - particularly those making migratory movements or those with large home ranges such as birds, bats and marine mammals. Scale ~ Island wide 4. Land-use patterns Jersey’s landscape is a fine scale mosaic of (sub) urban, agricultural and semi-natural landscapes which contribute to the familiar character of the Island. Changes in land use can impact upon the very soils that we rely on for growing food. They can also result in the loss of semi-natural habitat or alter its character. 5. Contaminated land The use and development of land can be restricted by contamination which can create direct risks to human health, property and the wider environment. 6. Freshwater quality and availability The Island is reliant on its surface and ground waters for drinking water, irrigation, industry and recreation as well as for sustaining a vital natural habitat. The appropriate management of this resource is, therefore, vital both for human and ecosystem health. 7. Marine water quality The local marine habitat is exceptionally rich in species and water quality is generally considered high. However, there is still a threat, particularly from anthropogenic (man-made) sources of pollution. High quality marine waters are vital in underpinning both tourism and the fisheries industry. Executive Summary 8. Waste management Municipal solid waste production in Jersey has increased by 3% per annum in recent years and the incinerator at Bellozanne needs urgent replacement. Population growth, changes in consumer behaviour and advances in manufacturing technology mean more waste and a more complex waste stream to deal with. This trend is set to continue unless steps are taken to encourage the prevention of unnecessary waste and continue the introduction of more sustainable methods of dealing with unavoidable waste materials. Scale ~ Habitats 9. The biodiversity of Jersey’s natural and semi-natural habitats Jersey has a myriad of habitat types which support unique, diverse and important ecosystems. However, they must be properly managed and protected from degradation due to the pressures from land use practices, development and pollution, or the introduction of new or alien species. 10. Land management regimes Jersey’s land surface has traditionally been dominated by a farmed rural landscape. However, the agricultural industry is changing in the face of economic pressures and this may cause changes in the character of the Island’s countryside. Government support is likely to shift from supporting production to delivering greater environmental benefits. Scale ~ Species 11. The conservation status of key biological populations Jersey supports a richness and variety of wildlife that is not matched, area for area, anywhere in Europe. Our natural resources require a high level of protection to ensure their survival given the pressures that arise from human activities. Scale ~ Individual 12. The quality of life for Islanders A key factor underpinning the high quality of life in Jersey is a high quality environment. Each of us has the opportunity to help by living in an environmentally responsible way in order to help maintain the Island’s environment now and for the future. We will closely monitor each of these 12 perspectives using the Pressure-State-Response (P-S-R) model to Measuring Progress devise the most appropriate environmental indicators; outlining the Pressures facing Jersey’s environment, the State of the environment and the Responses in place to meet these changes. Executive Summary This model is based on a concept of causality; human activities exert pressures on the environment through development, energy generation, transport, industry, agriculture and other activities - which induce changes in the state of the environment and natural resources; air, water, land and nature. Society then responds to these changes through environmental, economic and other policies to change behaviour. By carrying out monitoring within this P-S-R framework, we can assess over time whether our actions are improving Jersey’s environment across 40 key indicators. Jersey has a high quality of life sustained by a good quality environment, but there is no room for Our environmental complacency. We have identified the five key environmental priorities that arise from this report. In each case, priorities we have summarised the main action points necessary to tackle these environmental priorities. 1. Climate change Jersey has a high reliance on private cars for local transport, and a dependence on fossil fuels for industrial and domestic uses contributes to local emissions of greenhouse gases. In order to address this we must:- i. Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and introduce energy efficiency measures which will decrease the Island’s contribution to climate change and its effects. ii. Further consider the potential for renewable energy. iii. Prepare for the local effects of global climate change: different rainfall regimes, rising sea levels, increased stormy weather and the impacts of this on our sea defences and flood prevention systems. 2. High levels of waste production Excessive waste generation represents a misuse of resources and causes pollution. Jersey’s municipal waste has risen by, on average, almost 3% for the last five years and our levels of recycling are not as good as have been shown possible in other European countries. Emissions from our present incinerator fall well short of accepted agreed standards. In order to address this, the Environment and Public Services Committee has developed a draft Waste Strategy which calls for:- i. The urgent replacement of the inadequate waste disposal facility at Bellozanne. Executive Summary ii. Strict adherence to be paid to internationally agreed standards in future waste management planning. iii. Improvements in recycling rates. 3. Pressure on the quality and quantity of our water resources The replenishment of local water resources is from rainfall - a finite resource. The quality of these waters is affected by diffuse pollution (such as nitrates from fertilizer applications and soakaways) or point source pollution (such as oil spillages from heating tanks). Around 90% of the Island’s population receive their water from the public water supply which is predominately collected from streams.