Seven projects have been awarded funding from the Strategy for Nature Fund, with funding still available for applicants to the bursary.
Just over £31,000 has been awarded, covering a range of projects including the removal of invasive non-native species, a barn owl survey and a project to raise public awareness of the location and composition of eelgrass.
Up to £9,000 from the fund is available each year for student bursaries for completing graduate or post-graduate degrees in a relevant subject with a commitment to carry out data collection for their research project on-island.
The application deadline for the student bursary is 9am on Monday 7th November 2022.
The Strategy for Nature Fund was established in recognition that the Strategy for Nature is not simply a government document but is a framework for the whole community. As such, the Fund aims to offer financial support for environmental initiatives which further the goals and objectives of the Strategy for Nature.
Jim Robinson, Director of the Natural Environment, said: “We are delighted to announce the successful applicants for this year’s Strategy for Nature Fund. The quality of the project proposals submitted by the community was, like last year, really high and we are very excited to see the projects delivered over the coming year. These projects will allow us to better understand and enhance Guernsey’s natural environment whilst helping to nurture a positive relationship with the natural world around us. We are extremely grateful to everyone who applied.”
The seven projects awarded funding are:
- Steering towards Carbon: Assessing eight years of conservation grazing – Joshua Smith – PhD student
- To the bat cave! The importance of underground structures for overwintering bats – La Société Guernesiaise Bat Section
- Guernsey barn owl survey – La Société Guernesiaise Ornithology Section
- Removal of invasive non-native species from Vale Commons Council land – Guernsey Conservation Volunteers
- Holistic land management and ecological outcome verification training – The Soil Farm
- Enhancing public awareness of eelgrass across Guernsey – Bailiwick Eelgrass Exploration Project
- Bio-sphere: Showcasing films in a seasonal nature information centre – Wild Islands
