FEW people will be surprised to learn that the area of wetland in the Island has decreased dramatically over the past two centuries.

The change has been a natural, if regrettable, consequence of a steadily increasing population and of development, lately on a massive scale. But, as guardian of so much that is precious in this community, the National Trust for Jersey is right to sound alarm bells concerning the future of those wetlands that remain. The pressure for them to be drained and built upon is likely only to increase if economic growth continues to drive demand for more housing and other forms of encroachment on the natural environment.

Wetland areas such as those surrounding St Ouen’s Pond, at Samarès and in Grouville are, quite clearly, among the Island’s precious open spaces. They are also havens for wildlife, including many species of birds, resident and migratory, and amphibians, including that symbol of Jersey individuality, the common toad or crapaud.
One place in particular, Ouaisné Pond and its margins, is one of the last refuges of the agile frog, a southern species found here but nowhwere else in Britain.

We should, meanwhile, remember that under the Ramsar Convention for the protection of wetlands – of which the Island is a signatory – a major part of the south and east coasts between the high and low water marks is classified as wetland. This vast natural asset might be a special case, but it, too, should be nurtured and preserved. It is no exaggeration to say that it is our only true wilderness – though in the past this has not prevented greedy eyes from identifying parts of it as possible sites for housing and even a new airport.

Although Environment Minister Freddie Cohen has stopped short of committing himself to agreeing to any specific form of additional protection for wetlands, he has said that he is open to the idea of public consultation on the possibility of including all such areas in the green zone.

There can be no doubt that an extra layer of protection of this sort would bolster the National Trust’s current campaign very considerably. Indeed, it is probable that without suitable legislation many of the remaining wetlands will suffer death by a thousand cuts as pressure mounts inexorably for new sites to be found for new homes.