What is the Jersey Biodiversity Partnership?
The Jersey Biodiversity Partnership is an informal partnership of more than 30 organisations and individuals committed to preserving and enhancing biodiversity in Jersey. Organisations within the partnership provide support in a variety of ways by offering:
- time
- expertise
- funding
- other resources
Why was it set up?
The Jersey Biodiversity Partnership was set up in 2006 for the purpose of implementing a range of action plans designed to target those species and habitats which are considered to be threatened, or in need of special attention and to provide a range of strategies and targets for their conservation.
How will the partnership reach its aims?
The partnership aims to protect, conserve and enhance a variety of wildlife species and habitats in Jersey through the successful implementation of the Jersey Biodiversity Strategy and associated Jersey Biodiversity Action Plans.
These aims will be achieved by focusing on the following specific goals:
- improving the flow of information and communication
- encouraging participation by all sectors of society
- promoting awareness of the importance of biodiversity
- supporting partner organisations in their legal and other responsibilities towards biodiversity
United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011 to 2020
The United Nations decade of biodiversity is a tool used by partners to put the Global Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the Aichi Targets into action. The Jersey Biodiversity Partnership signed up to the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity in
2011. This means that we have committed to saving biodiversity and enhance its benefits for people.
Why do we need action for biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of all living things. It is the ecosystems in which they live and the ways they interact with each other. Biodiversity continually adapts in order to survive under constantly changing conditions. We enjoy many benefits from our healthy and diverse ecosystems, such as:
- clean air for us to breathe
- food to eat
- improved water quality
- medicines to keep us well
- productive soils and nutrient cycling
- regulated local climate which prevents flooding and pollution
- enhances our emotional and physical health and well being
This is why preserving our natural plants and animals and the habitats they rely on is so important.
Examples of Jersey species that are in decline
We measure the number of butterflies as they represent what is happening with all invertebrate fauna. Butterfly numbers and diversity are declining in Jersey and we know this is also the case with other invertebrate species. Three quarters of Jersey's land surface is urban and agricultural landscape and we are seeing butterfly numbers in decline in these areas, this is also being seen in other European countries. However, there is a measured increase in butterflies on most of the island's protected and managed semi-natural sites which is encouraging.
Breeding bird data can act as a measure for understanding the condition of our environment. Jersey's current dataset suggests that over 19 years comprising of 32 species of breeding birds on farmland/suburban habitats is declining rapidly. In contrast populations comprising of 10 bird species on semi-natural habitats is slowly increasing.
Who are the partners?
The following groups are among those included in the partnership:
- Action for Wildlife Jersey
- Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust
- Birds on the Edge
- British Divers Marine Life Rescue
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
- Ecoscape
- Guernsey Biological Record Centre
- Jersey Amphibian and Reptile Group
- Jersey Barn Owl Network
- Jersey Bat Group
- Jersey Biodiversity Centre
- Jersey Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
- Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group
- Jersey National Park
- Jersey Marine Conservation
- Jersey Trees for Life
- JSPCA Animal Shelter
- Little Green Man
- Littlefeet Environmental
- National Trust for Jersey
- National Plant Monitoring Scheme
- New Era Veterinary Hospital
- Nurture Ecology
- Samarès Manor
- Sangan Island Conservation
- Seedy Sunday
- Société Jersiaise
- St Helier in Bloom
- St Martin in Bloom
- United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
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