HC 846 Sustainability in the Overseas Territories

Written evidence submitted by Governor of St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, Mark Capes

Background note:

Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) has developed a more-coordinated approach to environmental management in the United Kingdom’s Overseas Territories (UK OTs) since 2008 with the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) playing a more prominent role. The cross-Whitehall approach appears to be extending to other departments of HMG in keeping with the principles of the Overseas Territories White Paper.

Although there are similarities among the UK OTs, there are significant differences in scale, location, isolation, climate, population and wealth, which means that when addressing conservation issues in the OTs, one size does not fit all.

St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha welcome and have benefitted from UK government funding and technical support and this has made a significant difference for nature conservation and environmental management in general on the islands.

To successfully address the threats to biodiversity, St Helena in particular will continue to rely on the UK for financial and technical support for some years but the short term nature of project funding is not always the most cost-effective or sustainable way of supporting environmental work. A longer-term programme approach to support would probably deliver efficiencies and better value for money.

Questions for the Governor

(1) What role do you have in regards to the environment in your territory, both in terms of overall strategy and on particular developments/projects in the territory?

I am Governor of three territories: St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha.

St. Helena Government (SHG) has a Natural Resources, Environment and Development Committee, chaired by an Elected Member of Legislative Council; it has political oversight of the environment portfolio within Government. The Governor in Council makes higher level strategic decisions drawing on advice and recommendations from the Environment Committee and other stakeholders. Since the establishment of our Environmental Management Directorate, we have:

· Included ‘effective management of the environment’ in St. Helena’s Sustainable Development Plan as one of our 3 national goals reflecting the 3 pillars of sustainable development.

· Created our National Environmental Management Plan

· Designated 23 National Conservation Areas in our land development control plan

· Added environmental law to our legislation calendar (this law is currently being drafted)

· Created a solid waste management strategy for the island

· Agreed that tax incentives for importing ‘green’ materials will be considered this year.

· Signed off a solid waste management capital project

· Formalised the species action plan for the critically endangered Wirebird

· All Executive Council (Cabinet) memos require a statement on the environmental impact of the decisions being put to Council. This statement is reviewed by our Environmental Management Directorate and taken into account when decisions are made.

Through my office I make financial contributions to work on the environment through the Overseas Territories Programme Fund (OTPF) and ‘Darwin Plus’ funded by the FCO, DfID and DEFRA. Some recent contributions were:

o St. Helena Active Participation in Enterprise (SHAPE):: Darwin Plus 99,200 pounds for a paper and card recycling unit

o St Helena National Trust: OTPF 10,000 pounds for ‘Heritage Building Skills’ training

o EMD: OTPF 4.940 pounds to erect an information hut in the Peaks National Park

o St Helena Conservation Group: Darwin Plus 8,650 pounds to fund a rare plant census

SHG’s recurrent budget provides core funding to:

· The Environmental Management Directorate, to provide strategic oversight of the environment.

· Health and Social Welfare Directorate to run the waste collection service

· SHAPE a social enterprise focussing on employment for disabled people, a key focus of which involves recycling paper and cardboard products.

· The St. Helena National Trust, a non-governmental organisation focussed on protection and conservation of the natural and built environment

· The museum of St. Helena

On Ascension Island, I chair the Ascension Island Council, which provides me with advice on all issues impacting the Island, including on the environment. I also have overall oversight of the Ascension Island Government, though day-today running is vested by me in the Administrator of Ascension Island. The Ascension Island Government funds a Conservation Department and an Environmental Management team. A review of the structure of these teams, with the aim of developing one, efficient structure with oversight of conservation, waste management and climate change issues under one senior official reporting to the island’s Administrator, has started. These teams preserve and protect the island’s conservation and biodiversity including endemic plants and animals, provide solid waste management and provide oversight of and support for scientific research on the island.

The Conservation Department has received significant projected funding from the Darwin Fund and OTEP. The Administrator has also used funds devolved to him by me to provide smaller support, most recently to promote biodiversity awareness on Green Mountain.

On Tristan da Cunha, the Administrator, appointed by the Governor, is President of the Island Council, which has oversight of environmental issues. Council has a Conservation Committee where policies are formulated and environmental issues discussed.

There is a conservation department that manages conservation and environmental issues. The Administrator is line manager of the head of conservation, has regular contact with the department and regularly visits and reviews their projects. He also keeps in close contact with major environmental stake holders e.g. RSPB.

(2) How much of a priority is the environment and sustainable development to the government of the territory? How do you engage with the territory’s government on these issues? Are there any particular examples of where developments/projects have proceeded which would damage the environment, and what if any input did you make in such cases?

Conservation of the environment is of vital importance to the government of St Helena, not least because it is a key part of St Helena’s attraction for tourists. As mentioned above in (1) the environment is one of our 3 National Goals and is supported by a National Environmental Management Plan.

There is a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in place, so the requirement for an EIA is identified for developments through a recently modernised planning application process. Not aware of any development projects that have not been properly managed from an environmental perspective.

The same priority on these issues is given by the Ascension Government. While a formal EIA process is not yet in place, environmental impacts are part of the process in the development of projects and legislation.

As the Tristan archipelago includes two world heritage sites (Gough and Inaccessible) and is an important home to millions of sea birds and endemic species, the Tristan Government takes its bio diversity responsibilities seriously. This was highlighted in 2011 when a bulk carrier went aground and sank off Nightingale Island. The Island’s response to this environmental disaster illustrated just how vital the Tristan Government considers the environment, despite the extreme lack of resources and capacity on the island. The community’s response was recognised with the award of the 2012 RSPB Medal.

(3) What pieces of environmental protection legislation remain in draft form in your territory? Is there any draft environmental legislation that has stalled? Have you declined previously to enact any environmental legislation and what were the reasons behind that decision(s)?

St Helena has recently reviewed all of its environmental legislation and is in the process of drafting a new environment law to update and address any gaps. When drafting work is complete the new law will follow the same process as any other law required to be enacted on island. I have not declined to enact any environmental legislation.

On Ascension, the Island Council is considering a draft Ordinance on Marine Protection. This will allow the Administrator, on the Council’s advice, to bring in protection measures for particular marine species. I have not declined to enact any legislation relating to Ascension.

Tristan’s conservation legislation was updated in 2006. There are no outstanding or stalled ordinances in the pipeline.

(4) What is the nature and frequency of your contact with UK government departments and UK Ministers on environmental or economic development issues in the territory?

As Governor I Chair Executive Council (Cabinet) and so have oversight of every major policy decision taken by government that has an environmental impact. On some environmental issues I may consult with the FCO or other UK government departments. For example, in looking to develop a sustainable fishing industry we have had close and detailed consultations with UK officials to ensure that any fishing activity is well regulated and managed to ensure compliance with UK and international best practice. Last year I held a video conference with DEFRA Minister Richard Benyon to mark the launch of SHG’s new Environment Management Directorate. There was also input from DEFRA at the annual Joint Ministerial Council for Overseas Territories held in London last November. We work closely with DfID in particular on managing the environmental aspects of the airport construction project on St Helena.

The same applies for Ascension Island except day-to-day interaction with UK Government Departments is managed by the Administrator.

On Tristan the Administrator keeps in contact with the FCO and DfID on both economic development and environmental issues but with officials, not ministers. Tristan is in receipt of JNCC, OTEP, Darwin and RSPB funding.

(5) What scrutiny mechanisms are in place in your territory to hold the territory Government to account for their environmental practices?

The Natural Resources, Environment and Development Committee (see 1, above) has political oversight of our environmental issues, which are also closely monitored by NGOs such as the St Helena National Trust and the Heritage Society. Development legislation and regulations apply strict environmental controls to planning and development permission.

On Ascension, political oversight is provided by the Island Council.

On Tristan conservation legislation and Council oversight of environmental and conservation issues ensures that Tristan’s environmental responsibilities are scrutinised. The conservation department itself plays an important part to ensure compliance. A fairly recent example was when some wooden containers were brought in from Cape Town for a major project. The department was quick to alert government that the wood was not properly treated and suggested steps to mitigate against the impact of invasive beetles.

Tristan has a bio diversity action plan to cover the period 2011-2015, which spells out the responsibilities of individual departments and individuals.

All visitors to Gough, Inaccessible and Nightingale must comply with landing regulations. All landings at the outer islands must be accompanied by environmental/conservation officers.

(6) Given your role in regards to standards in public office, on what environmental grounds would you seek to remove territory government officials from office?

Any dismissal from the public service would be guided by the employment rules covering the actions of public servants.

18 April 2013