Archived press release

Damage/Threat to UK Wetlands

25 September 1995

A secret report obtained by Friends of the Earth shows how 42 of 80 UK wetlands protected under the international Ramsar Convention [1] have recently suffered damage (30 sites) and/or are under threat (25 sites) The Government's nature conservation advisory body which wrote the report [2] singles out fifteen of the wetlands where "negative changes in ecological character" are predicted [3].

The fifteen sites where negative ecological change is predicted include the Ouse Washes in the Prime Minister's Cambridgeshire constituency, the Exe Estuary in Devon, Esthwaite Water in the Lake District, Loch Leven in Fife and Redgrave and South Lopham Fens in Suffolk. Damage to the globally important wetland sites covered by the report has been caused by pressures ranging from contamination by agricultural chemicals and sewage, water abstraction, development and drainage to neglect, acid rain and toxic algae [3]. The report confirms that some damage caused by "point and diffuse agricultural inputs would only be reduced by changes in agricultural policy".

Tony Juniper, Deputy Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth, said:

"The UK is failing to comply with international wildlife conservation treaties because its feeble habitat protection laws allow damage and development in even the most important areas. Even if the legal protection for these places was strengthened, this report confirms that much more must be done to eliminate the conflicts between growing food, supplying water and the protection of our most valuable wild places".

All of the UK's Ramsar sites receive a degree of legal protection as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). However, Friends of the Earth contends (based on official reports of damage to SSSIs as well as its own monitoring programmes) that this device is too weak. Friends of the Earth is campaigning for changes to the law so that more robust safeguards are provided for SSSIs, the most important remaining wildlife areas in the country. Friends of the Earth will launch a Wildlife Bill later this month that it hopes to introduce into Parliament. The Bill aims to close legal loopholes that allow damage to SSSIs.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat requires contracting parties (including the UK) to protect and achieve the wise use of wetland areas of international importance. The UK now has 95 sites protected under the Convention. 89 are considered in the report but only 80 have details on threats or damage to their ecological integrity. It is not clear from the document what criteria have been applied to split the 15 from 40 sites where threat or damage is described.

[2] The Government's Joint Nature Conservation Committee wrote the document which will be used as the UK's national report at the sixth meeting of the contracting parties to the Convention in Brisbane in Australia in March 1996. The document is marked "Draft in Confidence for DoE. Version 6 June 1995".

[3] The following sites appear in the UK's report to the sixth meeting of the Ramsar parties as threatened or damaged. Those marked with *' are among the fifteen where negative ecological change is predicted. D=damage, T=threat.

DT.* Loch Druidibeg, A'Machiar and Stilligary. Lack of traditional management. Erosion due to excessive grazing by rabbits. Introduced species. T. Cors Fochno and Dyfi. Threat from sea defence work, oil and gas exploration and shellfish harvesting. D.* Loch Leven. Nutrient enrichment. DT. Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. Phosphate contamination. Water abstraction could reduce water levels in dry years. T. Minsmere and Walberswick. Erosion due to sea defence works at Sizewell C reactor. T. North Norfolk Coast. Saltwater inundation of freshwater ditches. D.* Ouse Washes. Excessive spring flooding (bad for breeding wading birds). Nutrient enrichment. D. Abberton Reservoir. Toxic algae. T. Claish Moss. Potential damage to hydrology due nearby conifer plantation. D. Rostherne Mere. Eutrophication. DT.* Silver Flowe. Fire damage. Eutrophication. DT. Chesil Beach and the Fleet. Eutrophication and toxic algae. DT.* Dee Estuary. Proposed dock developments. Damage from sea defence works. Shell fisheries. Tipping (until at least 2005). T. Derwent Ings. Subsidence from deep mine workings threatens hydrology. T. Swale. Drainage. D. Loch Skene. Nutrient inputs from agricultural chemicals and sewage. T. Chichester and Langstone Harbours. Proposed building development could disturb wintering geese. D. Upper Severn Estuary. Sea wall construction. T. Eilean na Muice Duibh, Islay. Agricultural chemicals and forestry. DT.* Redgrave and South Lopham Fens. Water abstraction from adjacent borehole. DT. Rutland Water. Phosphate contamination. D. Holborn Moss. Fire damage. D.* Llyn Idwal. Damage by erosion and over grazing. DT.* Esthwaite Water. Phosphates from sewage. D. Walmore Common. Drainage works. DT.* Exe Estuary. Marina development. Shell fisheries. D. Chippenham Fen. Water abstraction. D.* Burry Inlet. Cockle fishery. Undergrazing. DT. Upper Solway Flats and Marshes. Shell fishery. Natural gas exploration. Low flying military aircarft. Sewage input. Proposed marina. Proposed nuclear power station. DT. Roydon Common. Eutrophication. Industrial pollution. D.* Crymlyn Bog. Scrub encroachment. D.* Hamford Water. Relative sea level rise. T. Lower Derwent Valley. Subsidence from deep mine development. T. Medway Estuary. Swale Gateway Development - including housing, industry and infrastructure. Sea wall proposed. New gas works. T. Stodmarsh. Housing development proposed adjacent to site. D.* Midland Meres and Mosses. Eutrophication from agricultural and domestic sources. T.* Stour and Orwell. Proposed port development. T. Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay. Road. Holiday park development next to site. DT. Humber Flats and Marshes. Flood defence works. Power station. Pipeline. D. Broadland. Phosphate contamination. Neglect. T. Portsmouth Harbour. 800 houses proposed adjacent to site. D.* Loch Ken and Dee Marshes. Hydro power development. Phosphate contamination.

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