Associated British Ports

GROUND-BREAKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN ABP AND CONSERVATION BODIES SAFEGUARDS IMPORTANT HABITAT
A pioneering agreement between Associated British Ports (ABP) and leading UK conservation organisations has helped to safeguard the future of the Humber Estuary as one of Britain�s key habitats for migrating birds.

ABP has applied for Harbour Revision Orders to develop two riverside berths on the Humber � the Immingham Outer Harbour and Quay 2005 developments*. The leading conservation bodies had previously raised objections to these developments, which they will now withdraw, following this unique agreement with ABP. The agreement ensures that ABP will provide valuable wildlife habitat, which should compensate for the habitat which will be lost as a result of the developments.

ABP is the first UK ports company to reach such an agreement without the need for a potentially lengthy and costly public inquiry. It breaks important new ground, with business and conservation groups working closely together to resolve potential conflicts between the needs of wildlife and port developments.
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The proposed Immingham Outer Harbour and Quay 2005 developments would result in a loss of about 31 hectares of inter-tidal mudflats currently used by migrating birds. ABP has committed to the creation of 57 hectares of mudflat and salt marsh, and six hectares of grassland on the Humber Estuary, to replace habitats that will be damaged due to new port developments. This compensatory measure should enable waders and wildfowl to continue to use the estuary as a �filling station� on their migrations.

ABP � which owns and operates the Humber Ports of Grimsby & Immingham, and Hull & Goole � has worked closely with English Nature, The Environment Agency, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to find the suitable areas to create the replacement habitat on the Humber, an area of international importance for conservation. The agreement ensures that new compensatory habitats contribute to the long-term sustainable management of an internationally-important estuary. Over 175,000 water birds feed and roost on the Humber Estuary over the winter months, and even more pass through the estuary en route to southern Europe and Africa, or to Iceland and the Scandinavian countries. The Humber Estuary, with its extensive mudflats and salt marshes, is vital to the survival of these birds.

The conservation bodies involved in this agreement will continue to collaborate closely with ABP throughout the construction phases to ensure that the developments minimise adverse effects on the environment and that the compensatory habitats meet the needs of wildlife affected by the schemes. Throughout the process, ABP has balanced the need to develop its business while acknowledging its responsibilities to conserve areas of environmental significance, especially in estuaries and areas considered to have outstanding international conservation value.

The agreement is the latest in a string of moves by ABP to ensure that its operations and developments contribute to sustainable development and fulfil its obligations under the EU Habitats Directive.

Bo Lerenius, Group Chief Executive, Associated British Ports Holdings PLC, said:

�The key to this ground-breaking agreement has been the high level of involvement of nature-conservation organisations at every stage. I am proud that our port management and environmental teams have worked very closely with them to bring this about. This proves once again that business can and does work with environmental groups to reach agreements that benefit industry as well as protect the environment. And it is very much our intention to continue to work with these groups long after the construction work on the new Humber developments has been completed, to ensure that the new habitats continue to deliver the benefits they are designed to provide.�

Nicola Melville, Conservation Officer for the RSPB, said:

�Our key aim has always been to secure the best outcome for the birds of the Humber, and this agreement is a step in the right direction. We are pleased that ABP has now committed itself in a far-reaching legal agreement. If the Government grants permission for the port developments, then ABP must provide replacement roosting and feeding areas for the birds affected. In addition, ABP must monitor the new habitats and may be required to take further remedial action in the future, if they prove inadequate.

�The RSPB would always prefer to see the existing wildlife habitat protected in the face of development, but in this case, the agreement that has been reached between ABP and a consortium of conservation organisations provides habitats that should be of sufficient size and quality to meet the needs of the birds affected by the developments.�

Tony Edwards, the Environment Agency�s Humber Strategies Manager, said:

�This agreement demonstrates how both the Humber wildlife riches and the local economy can both be enhanced in a very practical way.�

Ruth Waters, Senior Officer of English Nature�s Humberside Team, said:

�The agreement ensures that the negative impacts of this development are offset, to maintain the incredible wildlife interest of the Humber into the future, and enables us to remove our objections to the ports� facilities.�

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust�s Chief Executive, Victoria Chester-Kerr, said:

�As Yorkshire�s leading wildlife conservation organisation, the Yorkshire Wildife Trust is pleased to have had this opportunity to work in partnership with ABP and other conservation organisations, including the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Any loss of Yorkshire�s natural heritage is to be resisted, but the positive approach taken by ABP here has ensured crucial replacement sites for estuarine birds. We look forward to working with ABP at this site and on other ongoing projects such as our nature reserves at Welwick and Spurn Head; this is a partnership with a long-term future!�

Heather Bingley, Conservation Manager of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, said:

"Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has had a long-standing association with the wildlife and habitats of the Humber Estuary through its nature reserves, such as Far Ings, and its local members. The approach taken by ABP in the Humber has resulted in a legal agreement that should meet the needs of business and our obligation to protect an internationally-important wildlife resource. We are pleased to continue working with ABP and other partners to secure a sustainable future for the estuary."
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Notes to editors:

� A Harbour Revision Order is an Act of Parliament giving planning permission for marine developments.

� *The Immingham Outer Harbour development will consist of four deep-water roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) berths adjacent to Humber International Terminal. They will be designed to accept the next generation of freight-handling ro-ro ferries. The projected capital cost of the development is �55 million, and is planned to become operational from 2005.

� *Quay 2005 is the proposed riverside berth development near Alexandra Dock at the Port of Hull. It will allow the port to accommodate larger vessels than can currently be handled, to meet the expected growth in container traffic. The projected capital cost of the development is �40 million, and is planned to become operational from 2005.

� ABP�s environmental team works to a package of important environmental principles which include: developing a corporate environmental-management framework; complying with environmental legislation as a priority; developing best practice to meet environmental responsibilities; aiming to meet both the growing demand for certain trades and the needs of the environment; promoting a corporate cult

7th August 2003

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