Image caption, Work is being done at Grouville marsh to try and protect the environment
ByRhys ThomasJersey- Published35 minutes ago
A scrutiny panel has heard Jersey is in a "biodiversity crisis", amid concerns the government is not focusing on the environment enough.
Willie Peggie, government Director of Natural Environment, said the Environment Department needed time and resources for a state of nature report.
Piers Sangan, who runs Sangan Island Conversation, said a biodiversity crisis included more invasive species, fewer native species, and a decline in the ecosystem. He said the government had responsibility to ensure the environment did not "fall by the wayside" because it was a "fundamental part of our island".
The environment minister said policies were being worked on to further protect the environment.
Peggie said any state of nature report should be similar to those in the UK, external, Guernsey, external and Alderney, external.
Image caption, Piers Sangan said more attention should be paid to biodiversity
Sangan said Jersey's biodiversity strategy had been "put on the shelf" since the early 2000s, and the island had lost animals including stoats.
He said there had been a "woeful lack of investment" in ecology.
"The environment is becoming quieter and, as someone who's been looking at this day in, day out for the last 15 years, it's becoming horribly noticeable."
He said several bird species were struggling to increase numbers.
"Even though they're still here, they're still breeding, they're not increasing in number... They are more or less extinct already and are likely to go extinct in the next few years," he said.
Environment Minister Senator Mary Le Hegarat said the countryside needed to be managed properly with a rise in invasive species.
She said: "Everybody needs to manage the countryside together, and we'll do the work and set out the policies and strategies in order to do so."
Government officials are expected to release a state of nature report in 2027, which would inform a new biodiversity strategy.
Image caption, Joshua (left) and Benjamin (right) Voak use grazing cows and sheep to improve habitats
Joshua and Benjamin Voak work for the Jersey Grazing Project, which uses cows and sheep to improve and restore habitats.
Joshua Voak said it was concerning the environment had not been discussed much in the summer's election as "there are so many economic advantages to having a healthy environment".
Benjamin said biodiversity was "super important" for the island's air and water quality and the retention of habitats.
'Caution' needed over spending
Concerns around biodiversity come as questions have been raised about the government's commitment to the environment.
Deputy Hilary Jeune, who chairs the environment scrutiny panel, said ministers' draft Common Strategic Policy, external did not take the natural environment into account.
The panel worked with Le Hegarat on an amendment to address that, external.
Jeune said biodiversity needed to be "front and centre".
Professor Liz Bentley was part of the Jersey Climate Council, which suggested Jersey need to spend £10m per year to reach net zero by 2050, rather than the £4m in the Climate Emergency Fund.
She said the council recognised the financial pressure on the government, but delayed action to tackle climate change would cost more in the long-term.
"We need to consider it over decades, not over a four year budget... It's about that long-term investment."
Le Hegarat said ministers needed to be "very cautious" about spending.
She could not say how much it would cost to reach net zero by 2050, but thought investing the money in the fund was a good way forward.
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