The Objective : Our Freedom to Sail and Navigate in a Sustainable Environment

The environment is subjected to a variety of pressures, those following natural cycles and others arising from external sources: human developments. the burning of carbon fuels, depletion of the ozone layer and resultant global warming and rising sea levels. In the Eastern Region, with our extensive low lying land, the rising sea levels result in erosion of low cliffs, a loss of salt marsh and other habitats, and increased pressure on existing sea defences.

Legislation seeks to mitigate these effects by imposing constraints on activities and by positive steps to create more habitat, particularly salt marsh. Some of these measures will impact of our freedom of navigation and boating facilities.
Our aim is to achieve sustainable boating and to raise the awareness among recreational sailors of the issues and of the measures that can betaken to ensure that we operate sympathetically with the environment that is such an important part of our enjoyment.

Therefore we need to cooperate with the responsible authorities to achieve a sensible balance, and ensure that the three aspects of sustainable development are ALL taken into account:-

• Economic
• Environmental
• Social
  As well as the technical feasibility of the proposals.
  

The principal environmental measures facing us are:

• Estuary & Coastal Management Schemes (Bird and Habitat Directives)
• Estuary & Coastal Flood Management Strategies
• River Basin Management Plans (Water Framework Directive)
• Offshore Renewable Electricity Generation schemes

Estuary & Coastal Management & Flood Management Schemes are currently being considered as part of Round 2 of the development of Shoreline Management Plans (SMP's).

It is the role of the Environmental Co-ordinator (ERPEC) :-

• Monitor Planning and Environmental issues in the region
• Co-ordinate and prepare the responses to these issues as they are perceived to affect recreational boaters, their facilities and their freedom to navigate
• Advise their Regional Committee and the Planning and Environmental Advisor of the RYA on these issues

In the Eastern Region, which extends from the Thames Barrier to the Wash and Inland to include the Fens and parts of Hertfordshire , we have had an Environmental Co-ordinator since September 2001

Chris Edwards - Eastern Regional Planning and Environmental Co-ordinator

Environmental Report dated 27th March 2010 more>>>