Ramsar Site

The United Nations Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention 1971) officially recognised Alderney's West Coast and Burhou Island as a 'Wetland of Worldwide Importance' in 2005. This ensures 'wise use' to protect and sustain the 1,500 hectares area, which includes the northern gannet colonies of Les Etacs and Ortac and the puffin colony of Burhou, through national plans, policies and legislation, management actions and public education. Strategic plans and yearly action plans are prepared to ensure the wise use of the site.

Various groups work together to advise, discuss their interests in the site, as well as manage and protect this Ramsar area to preserve it for the benefit of the island and the local wildlife.

Alderney Ramsar Advisory Group (ARAG)
The Advisory Group consists of up to seven environmental and scientific specialists, who are associated with professional bodies, or are independent experts. These specialists report to the General Services Committee.

The current specialists include:
Dr Phil Atkinson, David Chamberlain, Francis Binney, Paul Buckley, and Prof Charles Michel.
Alderney Ramsar Stakeholders
The Alderney Ramsar Stakeholders consists of various organisations that have an interest in the Ramsar site. These stakeholders include commercial users (fishers, ferry operators, wildlife organisations), recreational users (anglers, swimming groups) and governing bodies (Harbour Authority, States Veterinary Officers, Burhou warden).
Alderney Organisations
These are the organisations which carry out the work described in the Alderney Ramsar Five-Yearly Strategies and the Annual Action Plans. They directly input into and feedback on the development of these plans. These include the Alderney Animal Welfare Society, the Alderney Bird Observatory and the Alderney Wildlife Trust.
Alderney Ramsar Site Administrators
The General Services Committee (site Authority) have appointed the Alderney Wildlife Trust as the Ramsar Site Administrators. The Ramsar Officer is the designated member of staff responsible.

The role of the site administrators is to manage and protect the area and to work with the GSC and the Activity Organisations to develop annual action plans, reviews and five-yearly strategies. They also liaise with the Ramsar Stakeholders and perform other administration duties on behalf of the GSC.
5 Year Strategy Plan
The Ramsar Site Administrator create a strategy for the site every 5 years with input from the Stakeholders. These are then presented to GSC for consideration.
The latest strategies for the Ramsar site are as follows:
2017-2021 Five Year Strategy Plan [351kb].
2012-2016 Five Year Strategy Plan [1Mb].
2007-2011 Five Year Strategy Plan [592kb].
5 Year Project Review
Each of the Ramsar Strategies are then reviewed to check that the strategies are working.

The project reviews:
2012-2016 Five Year Project Review [193kb].
2007-2011 Five Year Project Review [249kb].
Annual Action Plan
Every year the Alderney Ramsar Site Administrators create an annual action plan with input from the Activity Organisations. These are then presented to GSC for consideration.
These are the action plans:
2023 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [563kb].
2022 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [1Mb].
2021 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [1Mb].
2020 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [557kb].
2019 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [3Mb].
2018 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [854kb].
2017 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [319kb].
2016 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [492kb].
2015 Ramsar Annual Action Plan [365kb].
Annual Review
Every year the Alderney Ramsar Site Administrators create an annual review of the previous years work with input from the Activity Organisations.
These are the reviews:
2022 Ramsar Annual Review [6Mb].
2021 Ramsar Annual Review [6Mb].
2020 Ramsar Annual Review [4Mb].
2019 Ramsar Annual Review [14Mb].
2018 Ramsar Annual Review [2Mb].
2017 Ramsar Annual Review [3Mb].
2016 Ramsar Annual Review [4Mb].
2015 Ramsar Annual Review [3Mb].
2014 Ramsar Annual Review [3Mb].