ABP and RSPB work together on the Humber
Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest ports owner and operator, and Europe’s largest nature conservation organisation, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), have signed a landmark agreement for cooperative working around the Humber Estuary.
The new agreement will ensure that there is a clear framework of open working between both parties to protect and further develop the nature conservation interests of the Humber Estuary.
ABP and the RSPB have a history of partnership which dates back to 1975, and have worked together successfully on a number of conservation schemes related to port development projects. In 2007 ABP opened two wildlife sites, Chowder Ness Foreshore in Barton-upon-Humber and Welwick Foreshore in East Riding of Yorkshire, as part of its commitment to the sustainable development of its ports.
The £3.5m, 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.
The sites provide a vital habitat for around 160,000 birds that use the Humber Estuary on their migrations, and contribute to the EA’s long term plans for flood defence on the estuary.
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.’
Dr Mark Avery, RSPB’s director of conservation, said, ‘ABP has a good track record of delivering environmentally responsible developments on the Humber. The ability to protect this area’s rich environmental assets is crucial and the habitat schemes at Welwick and Chowder Ness give confidence that current projects at ABP’s Humber ports can avoid harmful impacts on the environment.’
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Peter Robertson, acting regional director of the RSPB and Matt Jukes, port director Hull & Goole on 3 December.
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