Ports and estuaries are closely linked for fairly obvious reasons. Understanding the needs of the ports industry on the one hand and understanding the environmental issues on the other is a pre-requisite of wise decision-making.
So it’s great to be able to celebrate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the RSPB and Associated British Ports (ABP). The signing is significant because it marks a new agreement that means we can work in an open way to protect and further develop the nature conservation interest of the Humber Estuary.
ABP are our landlords at Blacktoft Sands - our nature reserve on the Humber. A relationship that goes back to 1975. More recently, in 2007, ABP have opened two wildlife sites, Chowder Ness Foreshore in Barton-upon-Humber (pictured)and Welwick Foreshore in East Riding of Yorkshire, as part of its commitment to the sustainable development of its ports.
The £3.5 million, 60 hectare project was undertaken following an agreement drawn up between ABP, the RSPB, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trusts in which ABP committed to compensate the loss of 31 hectares of mudflats arising from two projects including the building of Immingham Outer Harbour at its Port of Immingham.
A memorandum of understanding, to me, always conjures up images of quill pens, it’s a quaint name. But the reality is that if we (that’s the UK we, not the RSPB we) are going to stand a chance of meeting the challenge of stopping the loss of nature by 2020 we need all parts of society to play a real and active part, ABP are stepping up to the challenge.
As Matt Jukes, ABP Port Director Hull & Goole, said: “ABP’s desire to act in an environmentally and socially responsible manner is embedded within our business culture. The success of the Chowder Ness and Welwick Foreshores together with this new agreement further demonstrates that ABP can work with environmental bodies to deliver mutually beneficial objectives.”
Hear hear to that.
This positive and constructive approach shouldn’t be a signal that working with understanding should be a fundamental starting point across the Humber and beyond.
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