Broads Authority declares a Biodiversity Emergency

The Broads has been losing species at a rate of six per decade for half a century. The Authority has stated that urgent action is required to protect wildlife species from the impact of climate change and environmental pollution.

Iconic species in the Broads are at risk from warmer, wetter winters, and sea-level rise as a result of climate change. The greater frequency and intensity of storms will also increase the risk of sewage runoff in the Broads. These multiple stressors threaten the survival of some plants and animals.

The aim of the declaration is to raise public and political awareness, emphasising the urgency for immediate action to protect and restore the environment. It will foster stronger partnerships with local stakeholders, encouraging collaboration on critical issues.

Key to enhancing biodiversity in a changing climate is better management of water in the Broads catchment area – so that the land retains water in the floodplains during winter (without increasing flooding) to then be more available for nature in the summer months.

Broads Authority, Environment Policy Adviser Andrea Kelly, said:

“Measures to enhance biodiversity through better land and water management in the Broads are the missing puzzle pieces that will allow communities in the Broads to adapt to changing climates, reduce the impact of flooding, and create diverse ecosystems that support more wildlife.

“However, time is running out and we need immediate action. This declaration sets out how we can start to reverse species decline so that people and wildlife can become resilient in facing climate change.”

The Water Management Alliance and the Internal Drainage Boards are key partners. However, there are many challenges they face, including aging infrastructure and pumps which require costly replacement, and must also be fish and eel friendly.

Phil Cammile, Chief Executive of the Water Management Alliance said:

“We acknowledge the climate emergency unfolding within our Broadland Internal Drainage Board catchments. The growing frequency of intense rainfall, followed by prolonged droughts, is already causing serious environmental challenges, including threats to food security.

“Urgent investment in critical pumping and water management infrastructure is essential to ensure it is resilient, adaptable, and equipped to manage flooding while safely storing freshwater, the key to improving drought resilience.

“To protect what matters most, we must collaborate and innovate. Together, we can accelerate efforts to restore, protect, and enhance the environment while driving forward sustainable agriculture, housing, tourism and wider economic growth now and for future generations.”

The Biodiversity Emergency Declaration would be delivered using the ‘Broads Nature Recovery Strategy’ and its plan as the mechanisms to monitor change.

The Authority recognises the challenges facing farming and the environment. Examples of partnership work in the Broads include the Broads Biodiversity Partnership, Broads Peatland Partnership, and Farming in Protected Landscapes which support farmers with financial incentives to develop farming practices that adapt to climate change, restore peatland soils and work to improve water management, not at the cost of farming.

Read the full Biodiversity Emergency Declaration on our website here: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/about-us/committees/broads-authority/broads-authority-29-november-2024