A cuckoo in the nest

When the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) wanted to carry out a winter bird survey on the River Thames, who provided the boat? It was the Port of London Authority.

This relatively small gesture is part of a much broader partnership agreement between the two parties – an example of just how far the ports sector has moved on from the years of conflict with the environmental lobby.

Not so long ago, tradition had it that if there was a port development of any size being proposed in the UK, the RSPB was likely to be found among the “top” objectors. So what was this? Some sort of cuckoo? As part of the PLA/RSPB agreement, the charity’s conservation manager for the South East region, Steve Gilbert, actually moved into the port authority’s offices on a six-month secondment, sitting side by side with the PLA’s environmental team to develop a conservation management framework (CMF) together.

This CMF outlines the management of all the wildlife-related aspects of the PLA’s operations and landholdings on the Thames.

“The Thames is not only home to the UK’s second biggest port – it also provides a diverse range of habitats supporting more than 50 species of water-dependant birds, including 12 that are considered internationally important, and welcomes up to 300,000 over-wintering birds each year,” says Katherine Harris, former environment manager at the PLA who recently joined HR Wallingford’s new environment group as a senior environmental consultant.

Both parties had something to gain and learn from the partnership, she says. “The RSPB owns a lot of land alongside this estuary and many others – so it is helpful for them to understand the type of operational issues a port has on a day-to-day basis. For us, it was very valuable to have Steve Gilbert on board. I don’t think he could have done what he did were he not physically sitting in our offices talking to people on a daily basis.

“I think he was pleasantly surprised with the amount we were already doing to safeguard the environment.”

The RSPB and PLA are always looking for projects they can work on together, says Ms Harris.

“It is great to have established this relationship. The PLA team can pick up the phone to Steve Gilbert or his colleagues and say we are working on a project and want to identify at an early stage what could be the issues. They can be up front and honest and feed into the project early, so we are less likely to get objections from the statutory bodies later on. So in effect, the RSPB’s input can improve the way in which we take project forward.”

Ports have learned a great deal in terms of environmental considerations and are in the main thinking ahead and planning properly in this respect, says Derek Langslow, former chief executive of English Nature, who has been appointed to the board of the UK’s new Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

“Ports should be able to conserve a very good environment around them. What that means is they have to think and plan before they act and sometimes be prepared to spend a lot of money on it, because it isn’t cost-free,” he says.

“On the other hand, I would argue it is part of their obligation to the local community and also the wider community where the land has an international designation on it.”

Ports are also beginning to realise that a positive relationship with environmental groups can be invaluable when they are seeking permission for a new development, he says. “After all, these bodies will say better things about you to the planning authorities if you are behaving properly.”

Mr Langslow, who recently retired from the board of Harwich Haven Authority, where he was the environmental expert, says the most important priority for a port authority is to have a clear environmental strategy or framework of environmental needs.

“The first part of that is to understand your port area, its wildlife interests and its landscape interests, and understand any potential impact from your activities or the activities of leisure users. If you understand that and the hydrology of the estuary, how the mudflats change, how the bird and fish populations change, etc., you have a core knowledge on which you can base your discussions with other user groups. If, however, you are just firing your missiles from your own corner, that is deeply unhelpful.”

Although a port is often the most important economic driver in an area and therefore technically very powerful, it is vital that a port authority does not behave in that way, he adds. “A port that puts on its hobnail boots and kicks everyone it chooses will get trouble. You need to engage with non-governmental organisations as well as government and statutory bodies; you need to be prepared to spend staff time talking to people about your plans in advance.”

There is no reason why there should be conflict between port and the environmental lobby, insists Mr Langslow. “A port development will often mean some environmental damage, but be willing to compensate for that. Be willing to listen and interact with people – often they have good ideas.”