THE AIMS OF THE ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST AND OUR POLICY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The health of the environment is crucial to the work of the Essex Wildlife Trust

Damage to the environment is caused not only by large scale multi-national industries, but by what individuals and small businesses do locally. This environmental damage is one of the main reasons we face difficulties conserving wildlife, and also affects the quality of life of people in Essex. So Essex Wildlife Trust has a responsibility to reduce the impact of our own organisation on the environment where we can.

Our environmental policy is therefore to:

• include environmental considerations in our policies and decision making.
• carry out audits that identify how our activities affect the environment, look for sustainable and practical improvements, prioritise these improvements, and monitor and report on progress.
• comply with all legislation which relates to environmental standards.
• include such environmental considerations and improvements when considering the siting, design and operation of all new Trust activities.
• minimise energy use, dispose of any waste responsibly and recycle as much of it as possible.
• provide information on our environmental performance and any progress we have made towards reducing adverse environmental impacts.
• encourage other people, organisations and communities to understand the environmental implications of their own activities and to adopt environmental policies of their own.

Essex Wildlife Trust will ensure that staff, volunteers, members, visitors and suppliers are aware of this Trust Policy on the Environment.

Essex Wildlife Trust aims to secure a better future for the wildlife and people of Essex

The Trust achieves this aim in a variety of ways:

• Through our nature reserves. The nature reserves in our care are managed for the benefit of the wildlife they support. They provide examples of many habitats that are under threat in Essex - heathland, saltmarsh, grazing marsh, woodland, meadow and coastal sites. They are nearly all open to visitors to enjoy, and to learn how important these kinds of places are to our quality of life. We aim to buy new nature reserves in Essex.
• Through education. We must capture the hearts and minds of Essex people, because the future of conservation depends on people who value conservation of wildlife and the countryside. Our education staff teach over 20,000 children each year, and we run wildlife courses for adults at all our centres. The Trust also runs Wildlife Watch groups for its junior members. We have plans for new visitor centres in Essex.
• Through changing attitudes. The Trust tries to get its message over to the decision makers wherever possible. Each year we comment on over 200 planning applications and object to nearly 60 of them. We run campaigns highlighting threats to our countryside - such as pesticides, inappropriate roads and developments. We also offer advice to landowners, farmers etc. on the best way to manage their land in sympathy with the needs of conservation, and we are regularly consulted by all local authorities.
• Through our membership. Our members are the backbone of the Trust, funding its activities, providing volunteers that are vital to its operation, and acting as ambassadors, spreading our message to others. Without their commitment the Trust would not be able to function, and Essex wildlife would be under great threat than it is now.

The Essex Wildlife Trust cannot create a healthier environment on its own, but we must play our part and must encourage others to do the same in the long term interests of both the wildlife and people of Essex.

This policy was agreed by the Essex Wildlife Trust Council on 11th February 1997.
Originally signed by Val Crookes, Trust Secretary.