“If children grow up not knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it, and if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it, and if they don’t protect it, who will?”
These words should resonate with anyone who cares about the future of our planet. Nowhere is this question more pressing than on islands—small, isolated ecosystems that harbour some of the most unique, remarkable life on Earth.
This piece is based on our doco-film 'Beacons of Life' narrated by Liz Sweet.
A Rapid Decline in Guernsey
Guernsey’s situation is a stark example. It took only 18 years for the island to lose 63% of its natural habitats. This represents not just a local crisis but one that reflects a global challenge: as habitats shrink, biodiversity—the immense variety of plants, animals, and microbes that keep our ecosystems healthy—collapses in tandem.
On the bright side, the same isolation that makes islands so vulnerable also gives them enormous potential for restoration and innovation. Through rewilding projects, targeted conservation, and policy changes, we can reverse the damage before it’s too late.
The Power of Islands
Islands are often called “living laboratories.” Of the more than 600,000 islands in the world, only around 11,000 are inhabited by humans. Many, like Guernsey, Alderney, Herm, and Sark, are homes to extraordinary habitats and species:
Alderney’s Gannet Colonies Each February, around 6,000 pairs of gannets return to nest on its islets. They hunt and forage widely, showing just how interconnected our islands truly are.
Eelgrass Meadows in Guernsey and Herm Some of the densest eelgrass beds in the British Isles thrive here. In Belgrave Bay alone, three important habitat-forming species—kelp, maerl, and eelgrass—co-exist in a rare combination.
Marine Life Dolphins, sharks, rays, and even migrating whales sometimes pass through our waters. Two humpback whales were recently spotted off Sark, a thrilling reminder that we share our seas with giants.
Why Biodiversity Matters
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life within a given ecosystem. It matters because every living organism—no matter how small—plays a role in keeping the environment balanced. Some organisms pollinate our crops; others enrich soil or form the base of the ocean’s food web. When one species disappears, it weakens the entire system.
Famous Lessons
The Dodo’s Extinction Once thriving on Mauritius, dodos vanished within decades of human settlement. Flightless and unafraid, they were easy prey—and invasive species like pigs and rats only sped their demise.
Vanilla’s Hand-Pollination Grown mostly in Madagascar, vanilla must be pollinated by hand because it lacks its natural pollinator from Mexico. This labour-intensive process drives up costs and highlights how losing key pollinators creates worldwide ripple effects.
Guernsey’s Unique Wildlife
Guernsey is home to distinctive creatures like the Guernsey Vole, which has adapted to island life by becoming significantly larger than its mainland relatives. Meanwhile, Green Lizards may have been introduced from Jersey and subsequently become “naturalised,” co-existing within our local ecosystems. However, when introduced species become invasive—like the Asian hornet—they threaten local wildlife and must be controlled.
Leadership and Inspiration from Other Islands
Guernsey isn’t alone in facing environmental challenges. The Azores once depended on whaling for survival, but when that practice ended, they pivoted to whale-watching tours that are now a key part of their economy. Ex-whalers, having witnessed the fragility of cetacean populations firsthand, now champion stricter regulations to protect marine life. This is a powerful reminder that cultural change is possible—and can happen faster than we might think.
Toward a Nature-Positive Future
Conservation groups worldwide have rallied around the goal of becoming “Nature Positive” by 2030: halting biodiversity loss on a 2020 baseline and restoring full ecological recovery by 2050. Although ambitious, this framework guides everything from national policies to local initiatives:
Marine Protected Areas Jersey plans to protect 30% of its waters by 2030. Guernsey currently protects 0%. Establishing Marine Protected Areas would be a potent first step to reversing habitat loss.
Terrestrial Reserves and Codes of Conduct Existing reserves and Ramsar sites managed by groups like the Alderney Wildlife Trust and La Société Guernesiaise show that protecting habitats brings tangible benefits for nature and local communities. Simple measures like the “Give wildlife a chance” code of conduct help us co-exist more responsibly with local fauna.
Urban Green Spaces Studies confirm that more green space improves overall well-being. As Guernsey grapples with limited land, incorporating nature into planning and development is essential. It also needs to be inclusive—improvements shouldn’t drive out communities but enrich everyone’s quality of life.
Join the Effort
Islands hold a powerful allure—a sense of wonder at the abundance of life that flourishes in such small places. Yet they also remind us how quickly we can lose these habitats if we’re not careful. Guernsey’s story is cautionary but also hopeful: rapid change caused the damage, and rapid change can fix it.
If children grow up not knowing about nature, they won’t protect it. If adults don’t make space for nature in policy and community planning, the next generation never learns its value. Ultimately, conservation is not a separate domain—it’s the foundation of our health, economy, and quality of life.
We encourage everyone—government officials, business owners, community groups, and individuals—to recognise the urgent need to protect our wild spaces. Whether it’s donating to a local conservation group, volunteering on a habitat restoration project, or simply sharing stories about wildlife, every action matters.
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