2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity.

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NEWS: Weds 22nd December, 2010

ASSI decision is wrong for Island, says IoM Friends of the Earth

This week the DEFA minister rescinded the Ramsey Estuary, Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI).

Phil Corlett of Isle of Man Friends of the Earth said, 'This decision was a bad one, apparently forced by local special interests.  This area is the most significant remaining estuarine habitat, which includes intertidal mudflats and salt marsh.  In deciding whether to assign an ASSI the minister should remember that he's bound to act in the national interest.  It would appear in this case that he has failed to protect an important and vulnerable national habitat.'

Ian Costain, FoE's spokesman on biodiversity issues added, 'Mr Shimmin has also taken the more radical decision to call for a review of the way in which ASSIs are designated, because he suggests the process lacks transparency.  It's already fully in his gift to create greater transparency, simply by publishing more information from each ASSI consultation - there is no need to change the law.'

The Isle of Man's process for designating ASSIs is modelled very closely on the UK process for designating Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).  In England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the body responsible for maintaining habitat (for example Natural England or Scottish Natural Heritage) will assess an area to be of particular significance.  It will then 'notify' the public and special interest groups that may be affected by the designation.  A consultation will take place, and then having listened to and recorded all views in a fully open and transparent fashion the body will make a decision about whether to actually assign the SSSI or not.

Mr Costain said, 'The same process exists here - the difference is that where around 10% of the UK on average, and 13% of Scotland has now been protected with designated SSSI status, only around 3% of Isle of Man benefits from ASSI protection.  It could never be said that the Island's habitats are being put before commercial interests.'

Each ASSI/SSSI is unique and a management agreement is drawn up in full consultation with the landowner as part of the designation.  The process works exceptionally well and has protected biodiversity across Britain by ensuring the sensitive maintenance of large areas of vulnerable habitat.  The process is supported by wildlife, ornithological and environmental groups as well as by bodies representing landowners, such as the National Farmers' Union.

Mr Costain said, 'Mr Shimmin is seeking to overly complicate an unusually simple governmental process.  Change in the law is unnecessary.  It will threaten the Isle of Man's ability to successfully protect wildlife and vulnerable or unique habitats in the future.  It will also diminish our capacity to live up to our international commitments.  Furthermore, by creating an overly bureaucratic system Mr Shimmin will also add significant costs to the notification/designation process in the future.'

* The most important convention that exists in the world is the Convention of Biological Diversity – often called the Rio Convention. 191 countries have signed this convention. We’re haven't - but we should! (See above)
* At the moment the key piece of legislation protecting biodiversity on the Isle of Man is the Wildlife Act 1990. (More info below)

* ASSIs: FoE is supporting efforts to designate at least 10% of the Isle of Man as ASSI status land.
* Members are working with other groups, such as the Manx Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust (see Links page), to help maintain biodiversity through practical action.

Did you know?
2010 is the UN
International Year of Biodiversity
Click here for info

Our consultation letter to the Minister

FOR REFERENCE

Dear Sir,

Isle of Man Friends of the Earth wishes to express the strongest possible support for the designation of the Ramsey Estuary as an ASSI.

We have always been in favour of the Isle of Man Government taking steps to protect its range of habitat and species.  While some of the habitats and species may not be exceptional in a British Isles-wide context, they are our habitats and species, and our responsibility to identify and protect.
If the Isle of Man prides itself in being a microcosm of many of the best environments of the British Isles, it needs to recognise where these are vulnerable to so-called ‘development’, and to take steps to safeguard the significant places and species when they come under threat.

There are several habitats which have been lost on the Isle of Man, such as species-rich wildflower meadows, ancient deciduous woodland and (since the building of the airport’s RESA) limestone shore. This makes it more important to safeguard the habitats which still exist, and in this case the particular importance of the estuarine habitats, from intertidal mudflats to saltmarsh.  The value of the saltmarsh has long been recognised and highlighted in various pieces of research and reports and it should go without saying that any development that would, at a stroke, desecrate 85% of the Island’s remaining estuarine saltmarsh must be resisted. If Ramsey’s estuary contains 71% of the Island’s remaining intertidal estuarine habitat then the figures should speak for themselves and the area must be safeguarded.

It’s no good for developers and their supporters to claim that because other estuaries have been effectively trashed in wildlife terms that they should be allowed to similarly trash their own. As the habitat becomes increasingly rare it deserves greater protection, rather than less.  Although certain businessmen might have a tunnel-visioned and blinkered approach that would see the Garden of Eden replaced by a car park (or Ramsey estuary replaced by a boat park), their ability to see the cost of everything and the value of nothing needs to be challenged and faced-down.

Much has been made of the impact of the ASSI designation on future prospects for a marina, and one town councillor was quoted as saying that the decision had to be the one with most benefits to the townspeople of Ramsey. With respect, we would suggest that this is a proposal to spend the Island’s money on threatening the Island’s range of wildlife, possibly in breach of the Island’s duties under various international conventions. This is a matter to be decided in an Island-wide context.

The recent public consultation on the various marina options was heavily weighted in favour of the apparent value-for-money of the largest scheme, with little consideration given to the aspect of habitat and species loss. If an Environmental Impact Assessment had been included, we are sure that the public response would have been very different. There is wildlife value in the area of the Old Harbour, and it would be a shame to see it flooded, but if there is ever to be any water-impounding scheme then it should be limited to this location.

We believe that current harbour operations will be unaffected by the designation, that the people of Ramsey and beyond can be educated into appreciating the value of this habitat and taking a pride in its preservation, and that responsible future development will not be impossible. We whole-heartedly applaud the designation of the Ramsey Estuary as an ASSI.

Yours faithfully,

Philip Corlett
(Co-ordinator, IoM Friends of the Earth)