Environmental Audit CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Nick Rendell, Environmental Officer, Environmental Planning Department, Falkland Islands Government
Thank you for your letter of 25 March 2013 requesting information relating to sustainability in the Falkland Islands. I have put together a response to the specific questions you supplied which has been copied to members of the Environmental Committee—the statutory committee administered by the FIG Environmental Planning Dept and is responsible for overseeing environmental management in the Falkland Islands.
What particular aspects of environmental support/admin/funding from the UK Government is welcomed? What environmental support/admin/funding is not welcomed? Would the Governor taking a closer interest in environmental protection be appropriate?
Funding
UK Government funding is vital to running conservation programmes in the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands Government has made it clear in the past that external funding is necessary to implement the Falkland Islands Biodiversity Strategy 2008–18. We currently require roughly £300K per year (2008 figures, so this figure is higher in real terms now) to undertake conservation-based research and environmental management to fully implement the Biodiversity Strategy. Of this around £200K is provided by FIG, to Falklands Conservation (the main conservation NGO in the Islands) and FIG Environmental Planning Dept. The remainder is down to external funding. There are very few environmental funding streams available to us. Those available funding streams we have accessed are Darwin Initiative funds (now Darwin Plus only), EU BEST and EDF funding and historically OTEP. Project application success has varied, and has led to ad hoc delivery of conservation programmes and research.
Long-term funding is required to support capacity building, retaining locally-based individuals in conservation and environmentally related positions to retain knowledge and integrate conservation efforts into the community.
Support and Admin
JNCC offer useful support and admin to facilitate small scale training as well as securing larger one off funding support. This is very much appreciated and is the main contact the Environmental Planning Dept has with UK Government Departments. I am not aware of the FI NGO groups having relationships with any UK Government Departments.
Governor’s role
There is a subtlety regarding perceptions of recommendations on environmental action being placed by UK institutions on the Falkland Islands. FI led priorities stemming from the Biodiversity Strategy and FI Islands Plan should be identified and pursued by the Governor where appropriate.
What more should the UK Government be doing to support environmental protection in the overseas territories. Does the 2012 White Paper, which sets out the UK Government’s strategy, meet your expectations?
There should be a commitment from UK Government to better support the OTs through enhanced long-term project funding, given that the vast majority of UK biodiversity is held in the Overseas Territories. The 2012 white paper sets out this commitment in principle but does not detail an adequate funding strategy.
To what extent is the UK Government discharging its international responsibilities concerning the environment and biodiversity?
The Environment is one of 11 priority areas identified in the Falkland Islands “Islands Plan”, which aims to ensure the conservation of the Islands environmental heritage and biodiversity; and seeks to enhance environmental protection.
The Falkland Islands developed a Biodiversity Strategy in 2008 (supported by a detailed environmental baseline assessment (State of the Environment Report) which was reviewed in 2011.
The Falkland Islands Government has signed up to a number of international agreements in its own right. FIG has committed to achieving the objectives of:
The Kyoto Protocol.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Ramsar Convention.
Conservation of Migratory Species of Animals.
Conservation of Albatross & Petrels (ACAP).
The Islands have been first movers amongst OCTs in the development of wind power. The Islands six wind turbines provide 40% of Stanley’s electricity and extensive investments have been made in providing wind power to settlements and individual farms in rural areas—to the extent that most now have 24hr power and with a commensurate reduction in the use of diesel fuels. FIG has recently concluded negotiations with the Ministry of Defence to construct additional turbines to provide power to the Mount Pleasant Complex, further reducing the use of fossil fuels on the Islands.
Environmental funding is low in the context of the overall FIG budget. Total annual funding of c£200,000 (less than 1% of FIG annual budget) includes funding for Falklands Conservation (£70k) and an Environmental Studies Budget (£60k).
The recently formed Environmental Mainstreaming Group is a Forum to further encourage and support “greening” of government and industry.
In 2012 FIG announced the creation of the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute, along with seedcorn funding to develop the institute over a three year period. The Institute has a high level of political support and is successfully engaging with partners from other OTs, in the UK and the rest of the world.
Reflecting the high priority attached to the environment in the Islands, FIG recently announced that hydrocarbon developments would be required to undertake a detailed “Environmental Case” in support of any proposals put forward. This is a significant step and will enable the Islands to be at the forefront of environmental management of a new hydrocarbons sector. The Government is also actively reviewing its safety and emergency management processes and procedures, which will include environmental protection.
There is a relatively small amount of funding available for environmental work in the OTs. Two million pounds per year from UK Government compared to hundreds of million available to UK mainland projects.
Do UK government departments work effectively together on overseas territory issues? Would you welcome stronger support from any UK departments in particular?
I do not understand the UK Government Department structures well enough to comment in detail. There seems to be very poor connectivity between UK departments and down to OTs. JNCC are a very useful contact who are very supportive and could give access to UK Government depts.
The UK Government has consolidated its environmental protection funding for the overseas territories into the “Darwin Plus” Fund. Is this a positive development and is the Fund big enough to support the work that is needed?
The Darwin Plus Fund is positive, but at £2 million between 14 territories, this is still not enough funding. The removal of eligibility of non-ODA eligible OTs from Darwin’s main round is a backward step.
Do your environmental departments have enough staff and the technical expertise you need?
No. One full time staff member within FIG working on the environment. A subvention of £70K to Falklands Conservation helps support three positions. Support for more permanent positions should be a responsibility of FIG.
We do have access to outside expert advice on many subjects from JNCC and RGB Kew which is helpful. Low staffing means we rarely have time to draw on sources of external advice fully.
What pieces of environmental protection legislation remain in draft form in the territory? Is there a role for the UK Government to ensure that this legislation is enacted?
Notable is draft terrestrial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation. This is in draft form and not yet consulted on due to general lack of capacity in FIG, both for relevant departments to comment and for Attorney General’s Chambers to progress.
What estimates have the territory’s government made of the value of natural resources and ecosystem services to the economy of the territory?
Very crude estimates on primary economy areas (fisheries, agriculture and some aspects of tourism). Currently a FCO and JNCC-funded pilot project assessing ecosystem services in the Falklands which may lead to a National Ecosystem Assessment exercise. So some progress in this area. Support for this work is mixed at all levels.
What scrutiny mechanisms are in place in your territory to hold the territory government to account for their environmental practices?
The committee system within FIG committees is generally transparent and allows public and NGOs to see what is planned and taking place and to advise and comment.
Environmental Mainstreaming Project is attempting to better “green” business, as there is a poor approach to environmental thinking in government department s and much of the private sector.
Falklands Conservation provide independent scrutiny to FIG on environmental issues. Even with links to Birdlife International, FC are fully occupied implementing their own research and conservation priorities and do not have sufficient resources to undertake this as well as they might.
18 April 2013