5
Wetland Futures Report 2013: The Value of Healthy Wetlands
Keynote speech from Chris Baines
Chris Baines gave an opening keynote speech
highlighting the need for people to understand the
restoration of habitat for catchment wide benefits. It is
not all bad news; otter numbers have rebounded and the
number of people with ponds in their garden has grown
hugely. However, we must take advantage of the wakeup
call that we can have drought and flood in the same
week; that solutions aren’t easy and that cause and effect
is complicated.
Expanding urban areas are resulting in more non-
absorbent surfaces and provide a barrier to rainfall, but
perhaps less obvious is the effect of upstream land
management on flooding downstream. Improving land
management in the uplands, such as creating areas with
little or no sheep grazing, can increase their capacity to
act as a sponge and soak up rainwater. Re-establishing
upland habitat such as sphagnum beds can double the
water holding capacity of a landscape within four or five
years. However, for this to be done on a large enough
scale we need powerful messages and for people to
make the connections between enjoying the landscape,
flooding, land management, wildlife, reliability of drinking
water and the Water Bill.
We also need to make the ecological connection
between habitats. For example the curlew is an iconic
upland bird, and yet it over-winters on the coast.
Chris went on to give an example of a Wildlife Trust
managed realignment project in Essex. Within a year of
not growing winter wheat and the flood defences being
breached there was a commercial crop of samphire.
Also the creek system had re-established providing
habitat to literally millions of fish fry, including five
commercially important species driving the argument
offshore. Chris made a strong point about making
uncomfortable alliances with offshore industry such
as wind power, oil, gas and aggregates. For example
working in partnership to build reef systems and use
industrial techniques to re-establish damaged habitat.
Fish quotas result in many boats spending time in
harbour and the technology onboard these boats could
be used to monitor marine life and ecosystems. The
sea connects back onshore with a third of all fish in the
North Sea spending time in the Thames. Infrastructure
projects are an opportunity, not just a threat. For
example, incorporating habitat creation in the design
and engineering of the Thames Tunnel. Action against
such projects can lead to a drive for alternative solutions.
For example, development of sustainable drainage
systems and re-establishment of wetland areas such as
the River Quaggy.
Chris finished off with the high speed rail project – we
may not want or need it, but it could be used as a chance
to improve and restore landscape, if the alliances and
connections were made. We need to break down silos,
make the connections, make the links and the resulting
whole will be much greater than the sum of its parts.
Professor Chris Baines
Environmental Adviser, Writer and Broadcaster
Curlew
photo: James Lees
