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Local environmental projects open for funding

Bailiwick Eelgrass Exploration Project (BEEP)

BEEP was founded by several NGO’s within the Bailiwick of Guernsey in 2019, with the aim to record and create awareness of the Bailiwick’s eelgrass meadows through citizen science. The project has three objectives:

To record (and collate information on) the presence, distribution, extent and composition of eelgrass around the Bailiwick of Guernsey
To promote awareness of this important habitat forming species within the Bailiwick to relevant stakeholders, appropriate bodies and the public
To assess environmental impacts from human activities (such as traditional boat moorings) upon eelgrass beds within the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Overview

How to Support this Project

To support this project, please contact Nicky Harris: marinebiology@societe.org.gg

BEEP is a joint volunteer project initiated in 2019 with the founding groups: La Société Guernesiaise, Alderney Wildlife Trust, Biodiversity Partnership and Guernsey Biological Records Centre, supported by Seasearch.

For more information visit: https://societe.org.gg/wp/beep/

La Société Guernesiaise is a charitable organisation founded in 1882 to encourage the study of the history, natural history, geography and geology of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the conservation of the Bailiwick’s natural environment and the preservation of its historic buildings and monuments. Its activities extend into many other areas, including history, archaeology and astronomy. It owns or manages the majority of nature reserves on Guernsey. The organisation runs a variety of community outreach and engagement activities, from producing in-depth scientific publications and providing lectures, to hosting public events for all ages, such as junior bird-ringing demonstrations.

Project Information

Community engagement across the Bailiwick is central to BEEP’s aims and objectives. We wish to develop two ‘BEEP accessibility borrow boxes’, one for Guernsey and one for Alderney.

The boxes will comprise of educational/outreach/awareness materials for volunteers/ groups/ stakeholders to borrow. For example, an education team leader/school could ‘borrow the box’ for a month.

The box would consist of different key stage/age appropriate educational materials and information (such as information booklets, maps, eelgrass puppets, science kits), all associated with the island’s eelgrass (including information on its importance, threats etc).

Introductory training sessions on how to use the boxes will also be provided by BEEP volunteers.

Funding needed

To develop the ‘BEEP accessibility borrow box’ initiative, estimated costs are £2,500.00.

This is to purchase/print associated educational materials and setup introductory sessions, for two boxes.

Which UN Sustainable Development Goals does this Project contribute to?

This project helps to progress against UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water (conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development).

BEEP helps contribute towards Goal 14, through implementing citizen science surveys of the Bailiwick’s eelgrass beds, with interested members of the public, key stakeholders and commercial groups. BEEP actively records and collates ecological information of eelgrass, which is considered a nature based solution to climate change (through carbon sequestration). In addition, BEEP aims to assess the negative impacts from human induced activities, such as the pressures of traditional boat moorings upon eelgrass beds. Enhancing current knowledge of one of the Bailiwick’s important marine habitats (eelgrass beds/meadows), including the pressures it faces, can help contribute local information to this global UN Sustainable Development Goal.

Outcomes

Increase awareness of eelgrass across the islands: including its importance, function, and role in the local ecosystem
Improved education and awareness: within the local community by making learning resources freely available
Connection with nature: encouraged through this project by provided the tools
Scalability: citizen scientists can collect data across vast areas and timeframes that would be impossible for professional researchers alone
Unique local insights: citizens often notice patterns or changes in their own environments that may be overlooked by external researchers
Public engagement in science: it helps demystify scientific research and fosters trust and interest in science among the public
Community building: citizen science often brings people together around shared interests
Fosters environment stewardship: people who contribute to ecological data collection are more likely to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours.