Brussels, 11/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - Completion of the first phase of the Wallasea Island Wild Coast project in Essex (United Kingdom) - a project to build Europe's largest man-made coastal reserve that brings together conservation and nature NGOs and the business sector - was marked on Friday 11 September by the European Commission and the United Kingdom.
Environment and Maritime Affaires Commissioner Karmenu Vella, Defra Environment Minister Rory Stewart and Coastal Communities Minister Mark Francois officially opened the Jubilee Marsh - so named since work began in 2012, the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) - marking completion of the first stage of an unprecedented initiative, led by the partnership between the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Crossrail.
The long-term project seeks to maintain biodiversity and to help local communities adapt to rising sea levels resulting from climate change. Completion is due in 2025.
“This innovative project shows the value of applying new environmentally sound techniques. It applies a circular economy approach to build an extraordinary natural resource and adds to Europe's growing 'Natura 2000' network of protected areas. I hope that this project will inspire similar initiatives matching business and conservation elsewhere in the UK and the European Union”, said Vella.
Stewart said that this project illustrates wonderfully well that “sustainable growth allows us to protect our natural environment while putting in place the infrastructure our country needs to grow”.
With the area disappearing under water, it has been possible, in the space of only three years, to raise the level of the land by using over three million tonnes of earth excavated during the construction of the Crossrail tunnels in London. A marsh has been created, providing a habitat for the arrival of new species expected to colonise the south of England and for the return of previously lost species. The project will reduce the risk of flooding for local communities and has advanced the science of landscape engineering by creating inter-tidal habitants on the largest scale ever seen in Europe. (Aminata Niang)