Falklands Conservation Annual Review July 2016–June 2017 ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE
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Falklands Conservation Annual Review July 2016–June 2017 Falklands Conservation is a full Partner of BirdLife International, making a significant contribution to the BirdLife Global Marine Programme and working closely with the UK Partner, the RSPB. The work we do reflects our mission to work in partnership with the local and international Falkland Islands community to conserve nature. Board Of Trustees FC Staff Update: Quilodran Jelbes joined the team as the new Administrative Officer in Mar 2017. Roger Spink (FC Chairman), Henry Full-time staff over the year: Dr Esther We also had the following project Robinson (FC Vice Chairman), Mandy Bertram continued as our Chief Executive staff: Frin Ross completed her project Shepherd (UK Vice Chair), Dr Paul Brewin Officer, and Farrah Peck remained as employment as the Habitats Restoration (FI Vice Chair), Tym Marsh (Hon Treasurer), Office Manager in the Falklands. Dr Officer, and Caroline Weir joined the Keith Biles (FI Hon Treasurer), Thomas Andrew Stanworth continued as the team as Sei Whale Project Officer in Oct Blake, Sally Blake, Tim Carr, Jan Cheek, Conservation Manager, and Sarah Crofts 2016. Throughout the year Helen Marsh Dr Colin Clubbe, Prof John Croxall, Ross as Conservation Officer. David Spivack very kindly provided voluntary support James, Steve Massam, Ian Moncrieff, continued in his role as UK Director, to our charity as the Herbarium Curator, Louise Taylor, Sally-Ann Wilson – Co-opted and Elizabeth Milston continued as the and Susan Thacker continued to provide Aug 2016. Community Engagement Manager. Frin voluntary administrative support to the Ross joined the team as the permanent Vice Presidents UK office in Sandy. Habitats Officer in Jul 2016 following Sir David Attenborough, Julian Fitter, on from her project work as the Habitat Robert Gibbons, Peter Harrison, Rebecca Restoration Officer 2015-2016. Angela With this staff complement, together Ingham, Robin Woods, Mark Carwardine – Clarke was the Administrative Assistant with the assistance of many dedicated as of Feb 2017. up until Jan 2017, Jessica Harte was volunteers both locally and overseas, we Patron Temporary Administrative Assistant for have had a successful year. We thank HRH Prince Andrew The Duke of York. the period Jan – Feb 2017 before Pamela each and every one of them. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Here is an overview of this year’s achievements: IMPROVING FC EFFECTIVENESS space for Watch Group activities. The EDUCATION AND OUTREACH fundraising appeal for this initiative was People launched at St James’s Palace by our Our Small Grants Scheme supported local conservation efforts of a native plants We have increased our investment in our Patron HRH The Duke of York in Jun 2016. staff, without whom, none of our work garden at Mare Harbour, eradication of would be possible, through individual invasive mammals on Bense and Little and organisational focussed training Governance Bense Islands, and to fence eroded land at opportunities. We have a strong set of This year the Trustees considered West Lagoons ready for tussac planting. Trustees who work hard to ensure we are it prudent to update the charity’s We had a display at the Falkland Islands compliant with the charity commission foundation document, to ensure that Farmers’ Week Expo, had Herbarium and and our organisational objectives. the governance of the charity keeps Habitat Restoration Trial Plot open days, We have a large, worldwide network of pace with changes in UK Charity Law. and hosted an evening meal. We arranged over 50 members through which we The previous Memorandum & Articles of volunteer weekends for the planting of are able to promote our work. This year Association we replaced with completely native tussac grass on eroded ground, we have increased emphasis on new new Articles, which were agreed by and for the removal of invasive thistles. recruitment initiatives, and expanded our Members at the AGM on 1 Dec 2016 and Numerous public talks, community generous group of corporate supporters. taken into use with effect of this date. events, print and radio appearances were held throughout the year. Our members Premises Fundraising received two issues of our high quality magazine, Wildlife Conservation in the Our main conservation operations are We have been working to update our managed from our head office at Jubilee Falkland Islands, as well as two copies of fundraising plan to ensure we have Villas in Stanley. Our two Jubilee Villas our newsletter. We continued to keep our sustainable income streams in place on the waterfront, acquired in 2007-08, social media up-to-date with the news and provide the base from which to run our and have been undertaking associated results of our latest work, and began work activities, with a complementary office for communications planning. Sales from our to redevelop the current website. the UK Director based at The Gatehouse small gift shop at Jubilee Villas, and our in Sandy, Bedfordshire (kindly supplied webshop, continue to supplement our Watch Group by the RSPB). wwe are working hard fundraising efforts. We hosted 160 guests Our efforts to build appreciation towards our vision of a purpose-built at our annual Charity Ball which is our and understanding of wildlife and headquarters in Stanley with a dedicated main fundraising event on the islands. conservation continued through the 6 Falkland Islands WILDLIFE CONSERVATION work of the Watch Group (the junior Islands, incorporate it into industry branch of our charity), which had a record decision making, ensure its protection, number of 60 members this year. With and also to provide mechanisms for the generous support of the Standard facilitating responsible operation and Chartered Bank, we were able to take leaving a positive environmental legacy children to many of the more remote from industry operations. parts of the Falklands, and to maintain a programme of activities throughout Oiled Seabird Rehabilitation Facility the year. Their activities were recorded The charity successfully cared for in the quarterly Rocky’s News newsletter. and released a low number of oiled Future plans to incorporate an education penguins over the year including centre for the Watch Group into our new gentoo and Magellanic penguins. building continue. A number of volunteers were trained to help care for penguins, as well as visits arranged for local school and PROMOTING CONSERVATION youth groups. A community project was AMBITION AND CONSERVATION organised with the British Forces South ACTION Atlantic Islands (MoD) assisting with on-going improvements to the facility. We continued to provide environmental In collaboration with Detroit Zoological advice to government, industry and Society design work started on new other stakeholders in the Falklands and information panels and signs. abroad. We continued to be represented on the Board of the South Atlantic Driving forward habitat Environmental Research Institute (SAERI). restoration and land We commented on several elements of management the oil companies’ operations through the exploration phase to encourage Habitat Restoration and Outreach best practice to be undertaken in This new three-year John Ellerman the Falklands. We maintained our Foundation funded project supports membership of the Falkland Islands habitat protection and restoration work Offshore Hydrocarbons Environmental including youth education and tussac Forum, and the Seabird Bycatch planting. Importantly, it also supports Committee. We attended the Falkland and show-cases practical restoration Island Government (FIG) Environment work led by landowners, with a focus Committee as formal members, and on restoration using native plants. worked with FIG in the development of Outreach included print and social strategies within the Falkland Islands media, public talks, stalls at agricultural Biodiversity Framework. Outside of shows, information leaflets, and planting the Islands, the Conservation Manager trips and field trips. Research continues attended the annual plenary of the Forum to monitor a subset of restoration trials for the Conservation of the Patagonian set up in the Darwin Initiative project Sea, the UK Director and CEO attended and to push forward new trials with the Joint Ministerial Council Reception seed-based restoration and tiller in London, and the UK Director ensured planting using species other than tussac. we had a high profile at the UK’s well- The Cape Dolphin Native Seed Hub is attended annual BirdFair. now established and run by Sonia and Andy Felton with support from Ben Strengthening biosecurity and Berntsen. invasive policy and practice We worked closely with FIG in Rural Environmental Engagement strengthening biosecurity legislation and Funded by the Rural Development encouraging an integrated approach to Strategy (administered by the Falkland invasive management, and with Island Islands Development Corporation), we LandCare to carry out practical invasive have worked with farmers to promote control through thistle eradication visits land management practices that have to Saunders Island with the support of our positive environmental impacts. Detailed volunteers. consultation with the farming community highlighted the importance of proven Ensuring leading practice farm-led initiatives that illustrate local being undertaken for onshore projects and expertise. In response we have shared farm-led conservation- TOP TO BOTTOM: and offshore development Over four hectares of tussac planted at Sea minded projects through the