Falklands Conservation Annual Review July 2018-June 2019
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Falklands Conservation Annual Review
July 2018–June 2019
“The Falkland Islands natural environment continues to support a range of industries. As these grow,
and as new industries are developed, the burden on nature also increases. With the impacts of climate
change and the likely reduction in finance to support nature, following Brexit – so these issues are
exacerbated. Our work to conserve the natural environment is as vital as ever, and would not be
possible without your support.” FALKLANDS CONSERVATION CEO DR ESTHER BERTRAM
THE YEAR’S ACHIEVEMENTS 2018–19
Our work reflects our mission to work in partnership with the local and international community to conserve the
natural environment of the Falkland Islands. We are a Partner of BirdLife International. We also have a Memorandum
of Understanding with the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) whereby we undertake agreed environmental activities
on behalf of the Islands’ wildlife and people.
Improving FC’s operational for our Watch Group (our junior members). abroad through the Falkland Islands
effectiveness This year, the group engaged the Offshore Hydrocarbons Environmental
Falklands Conservation relies on community about their own Watch Group Forum, the Seabird Bycatch Committee,
support and donations to continue our Islands Plan including articles in Penguin the Environment Committee, the Forum
conservation activities; our 500 members News, an infomercial at the new cinema for the Conservation of the Patagonian
are a vital part of this support, and we in Stanley, and dialogue with the Islands’ Sea, and ensured Falklands Wildlife had a
have been able to continue to expand our decision makers. We contributed lessons high profile at the UK’s annual BirdFair. We
generous group of corporate supporters. and assemblies to the local schools and put the environment at the forefront of
The September 2018 Charity Ball hosted supported a work experience student. decision making within the islands.
150 guests and raised £31, 293. Our retail Our Small Grants Scheme supported:
Strengthening biosecurity policy and
operations continued to help fund our Tussac planting and habitat restoration
practice
conservation activities, and 2018 saw the on Beaver Island, an information board
update and publication of the hugely at Elephant Beach Farm, a trip to Bleaker We participated in the biosecurity Horizon
popular book Birds and Mammals of the Island for the Girl Guides, and a native Scanning Workshop in the UK and in the
Falkland Islands, by Robin and Anne Woods. plant area at Dunbar Farm. Falklands. We worked closely with the DoA
and Biosecurity Officers to support their
Our approach to communicate with
Education and outreach work. We worked with Island LandCare to
volunteers and interested parties has
The Watch Group: With support from carry out practical invasive control through
improved, with a migration to a GDPR
Standard Chartered Bank, we maintained thistle eradication visits to Saunders Island.
compliant system. We engaged with local
our programme of activities to build landowners and managers at the Falkland Ensuring leading practice in onshore
appreciation and understanding of wildlife Islands Farmers’ Week Expo, held a talk and offshore development
about climate change and restoration,
We helped shape the developing oil
and took landowners out on research
industry regulatory framework, for the
activities. We arranged volunteer weekends
benefit of the environment. This included
for planting native tussac grass, and took
improving the islands preparedness to
volunteers out on our sei whale survey
deal with an oiled wildlife event in the
in Berkeley and Falkland Sound. We ran
following two ways. Firstly by carrying
the National Clean Up day, contributed to
out major improvements at the Seabird
the Careers Fair, Ocean’s Day, and held a
Rehabilitation Facility including a new
number of public talks from visiting experts.
roof and education boards for visiting
Influencing, advising and engagement school groups with funding from BirdLife
International, RSPB, Detroit Zoological
We continued to provide environmental
Society (DZS) and Environmental Studies
advice to government, industry and
Young volunteer planting bluegrass at Cape Budget (ESB). Secondly by hosting a
other stakeholders in the Falklands and
Dolphin. workshop with Aiuká Consultoria em
Falklands Conservation is a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 3661322 and Registered Charity No. 1073859.
Registered as an Overseas Company in the Falkland Islands.
The organisation is overseen by a board of trustees: Roger Spink, Henry Robinson, Dr Paul Brewin, Tym Marsh, Keith Biles,
Thomas Blake, Ross James, Sally Blake, Tim Carr, Jan Cheek, Dr Colin Clubbe, Prof John Croxall, Sally-Ann Wilson, Ian Moncrieff.
Steve Massam and Louise Taylor both resigned in December 2018, being replaced by Duane Evans and Matthew Bassford.
Day-to-day management is conducted by Dr Esther Bertram (Chief Executive Officer) and Dr Andrew Stanworth (Conservation
Manager). For this reporting period, the post of Office Manager was held by Farrah Peck (to Feb 2019) and subsequently Tracey
Hellowell. Until June 2019 the post of UK Director was held by David Spivack, however this role is now an administrative position
held by Alicia Boyer in the UK.
The primary office is 41 Jubilee Villas, Stanley, Falkland Islands, with a UK office at the Gatehouse, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL.
Registered Office; 2nd floor, Regis House, 45 King William Street, London, EC4R 9AN
Conservation in Numbers
2019 CETACEANS PROJECT 2018-19 FISMP HABITATS
4,200 km surveyed
– equivalent to South Georgia and back!
28,158
22,716 gentoo
penguins counted >4 ha
of tussac planted across the Falklands
4,935 southern rockhopper
>660 whale and dolphin sightings 507 king penguin chicks VOLUNTEERS GAVE
– including several mother-calf sei whale
pairs 1,245 miles miles driven on >2,000 hours
surveys– not including flights and hikes across all areas of our work
37,000 photographs taken
to/on Steeple Jason.
Soluções Ambientais on oiled wildlife west of the archipelago. Sites were in good
response planning. A key concern for FC condition, with fantastic wildlife (seabirds,
had been inshore oil transfer in Berkeley seals and sea lions) and habitats (bluegrass
Sound and a lack of offsetting of industry and tussac). At sites previously cleared
impacts. We are pleased that offshore oil of rats, populations of smaller birds were
transfer and offsetting measures are now responding positively.
both planned.
Marine management
Land management, habitat restoration Our four main focus areas for marine
and outreach management this year were: A successful
Our four main focus areas for terrestrial first season for our Darwin Plus funded
land management this year were: the project which furthers our work on the
final year of our three-year John Ellerman little understood sei whales and other
Foundation funded work focussed on baleen species within Falkland Sound
supporting habitat restoration led by and Berkeley Sound candidate Key
landowners, including youth education Biodiversity Areas. Around 660 sightings Our main office at Jubilee Villas in Stanley.
and tussac planting. We were also were made of sei and southern right
supported by Springcreek Conservation whales, tens of thousands of photo ID southern rockhopper penguins had not
to undertake multimedia promotion images were collected for future analysis. fully recovered since 2015, when a strong
of planting efforts as well as provide Two suction cup tags were recovered El Nino event affected their food supplies.
opportunity for the Watch Group to informing us on how sei whales feed and It is thought the current populations are
get a greater understanding of habitat underwater recording devices captured now lower than 10 years ago, however a
restoration through planting trips. This the first whale calls from Berkeley Sound. full archipelago census of these 2 species
year saw another increase in the number This work was complimented by support is planned for 2020/21. The southern giant
of native planting trips with volunteers, from the RSPB to employ a Marine petrel population is stable at an island-
including new trips to Head of the Bay Conservation Officer, to take forward wide scale, although population trends
Farm and the Neil Clark Nature Area at Port findings on Key Biodiversity Areas, differ between local sites. The ESB also
Howard Farm. With funding and support and inform the broader Marine Spatial supported a breeding population survey
from the RSPB we were able to work Planning process in the islands. Supported of black-browed albatrosses at 12 sites in
with FIG to develop management plans by Falkland Islands Government’s ESB, October 2017. Over 3,000 photographic
for National Nature Reserves; the project we developed a Cetacean Shore Watch images were filtered and processed
enabled us to work with Port Howard Observer programme to capture more resulting in more than 500,000 birds being
Farm and the Fox Bay community to help information about sei whale visits, counted. Initial results indicate good
develop new Nature Areas. Thanks to all which was initiated by a training event news - that black-browed albatrosses have
farms across the Falklands, for making this for local volunteers. The Annual Seabird increased in numbers at all the sites since
collaborative work possible. With support Monitoring Programme, also supported 2010. Thanks go to all staff, volunteers and
from the DZS, we were able to monitor by the ESB, continued into its 30th year. landowners who helped with surveys and
wildlife at our own island reserves in the Overall, breeding numbers of gentoo and counts.
“It was remarkable hearing the whales breathing… Huge thanks to Caroline and Steve for giving
me the memories I will treasure for the rest of my life.” FELICITY BATH , CETACEANS PROJECT VOLUNTEER,
Mother and calf, sei whales in
Berkeley Sound. CAROLINE WEIR
Highlights from 2018-19
l Helping shape the developing oil
Plans for the Future
industry regulatory framework We will continue working towards our managing our conservation team and
for the benefit of the natural vision of achieving a well-functioning leading our conservation activities. Our
environment, specifically through oil natural environment managed by Conservation Officer, Sarah Crofts, will
spill response, offsetting and funding those living closest to it through our continue delivering our seabird focussed
structure advice. new Five Year Plan and the goals and field-based work and our Habitats Officer,
l Undertaking ground breaking targets set out in our five new delivery Frin Ross, will continue with habitat
applied research on endangered strategies, which are: Operational, restoration.
sei whales to inform marine Fundraising, Community Outreach, Our conservation priorities remain:
management. Communications and Marketing, and
Securing funding for new core l Strengthening biosecurity and invasives
l Conservation.
roles to strengthen our community policies procedures and management,
We will continue to improve our l Ensuring best practice for onshore and
outreach and communications and communications and marketing
marketing abilities. offshore developments,
activities under the direction of our l Terrestrial habitat restoration,
l Improving our internal structures, Communications and Marketing Officer,
procedures and strategic planning l Enhanced marine management.
Michelle Winnard. With the oversight
through a well-functioning of our Administrative Team, Pamela We will focus on the below
Management Team. Quilodrán Jelbes and Alicia Boyer we will organisational approaches within each
l Developing our five new delivery ensure the offices and facilities, and the of these:
strategies to help us achieve our organisational financial management l Encouraging environmental ambition
vision and mission. are working smoothly. To increase our and best practice with FIG and key
l Running a successful youth abilities to work effectively with our stakeholders on practices that impact
membership group for 20 years, Watch Group and the community, we will on the natural environment,
which last year developed their own start work on our new FC Headquarters l Championing through our networks
Islands Plan and discussed it with building. We will continue to benefit from those taking positive action for nature,
decision makers for the first time. strong governance with our committed l Building engagement and
l Successfully running the board of Trustees.
Governments seabird monitoring understanding of our members,
program to its 30th year and Under the direction of our new particularly our Watch Group, and
counting over 28 thousand Community Outreach Officer, Michael the local community, on key issues
penguins. Ford, we will continue our successful affecting the natural environment.
l Actively supporting the start of work with the Watch Group and our
landowners undertaking their own adult volunteer activities. Helen Marsh We have an exciting, and
Private Protected Areas. will continue as the voluntary Herbarium challenging year ahead of us,
Helping ensure over 4 hectares of Curator maintaining the National
l
Herbarium to increase knowledge of and much we want to achieve –
tussac grass were planted.
l Undertaking our first visits and Falklands’ species. Our Conservation none of which would be possible
management planning for our own Manager, Andy Stanworth, will continue without your support!
island land holdings.
l Funding and completing the rebuild
and roll out of our new website
including our webshop.
l Completing our fundraising for our Tussac planting volunteers on Sea Lion Island, March 2019.
new organisational building and
Watch Group facility.
To find out more about what your support can help us achieve, including
donations, legacies, and membership, contact marketing@conservation.org.fk
Thanks & Acknowledgements
We could not have achieved so Malvina House Hotel, Falkland Islands Limited, for their generous contributions.
much without everyone listed Holidays, Darwin Lodge, Falkland Thanks also go to Lindblad Expeditions
Islands Tours & Travel, and Colonial and One Ocean Expeditions for
below. Equipment. We are very grateful for your contributions to auction prizes and the
Forum for the Conservation of the collaboration. raffle, and the Seafish Chandlery, The
Patagonian Sea, the Royal Botanic Malvina House Hotel, and many other
Major supporters of our project work
Gardens KEW and the Millennium Seed individuals and volunteers for their
(in terms of funds, help or advice –
Bank, Wildlife Conservation Society, support of this successful event.
often all three) in the past year were;
Royal Zoological Society of Scotland,
the Falkland Islands Government, UK’s For substantial donations to the
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Detroit
Department for Environment, Food and Building for the Future fundraising
Zoological Society, the British Antarctic
Rural Affairs, including their Darwin campaign to date, we would like to
Survey, Royal Zoological Society
Plus programmes, the RSPB, Standard thank Standard Chartered Bank, Falkland
of Scotland, Oxford University, the
Chartered Bank, the Falkland Islands Islands Government, Premier Oil, Noble
International Network for Seed-based
Development Corporation, the Foreign
Restoration, IUCN Peatland Program, Energy, JK Marine, Caribbean Alliance,
and Commonwealth Office and the
One Ocean Expeditions, Quark, Aiuká, John & Tracey Hellowell, Henry Kenner
SeaLife Centre.
the South Atlantic Environmental (Arrowgrass), Cotswold Wildlife Park
Research Institute, Island LandCare, the Major supporters of our core activities and Gardens, Morrison’s Construction,
Elephant Seal Research Group, New were: Detroit Zoological Society, Birdlife and Frits W Olivier. We would also like
Island Conservation Trust, the Falkland International, Dingle Oceanworld to thank the H.B. Allen Charitable Trust
Islands Development Corporation, Aquarium, Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, - long-term supporters of our core
the Rural Business Association, the Drusillas Park, Cotswold Wildlife Park and activities, who have now completed their
Department of Agriculture, Shallow Gardens, the John Ellerman Foundation, funding to us with a generous donation
Marine Surveys Group, the UK Ministry Springcreek Conservation and Steve to our proposed new headquarters. We
of Defence, Air Tanker, the NAAFI, Trant Spring. For substantial donations in kind, are very grateful.
Construction, Stanley Nurseries, and we thank Stanley Services Ltd.
Cape Dolphin Farm.
For the Charity Ball held in September
Of course, none of our work
We would like to highlight our 2018, we would like to thank our would be possible without our
corporate supporters: Sea Lion Island longest standing sponsor, Consolidated members, corporate supporters,
(Wild Falklands Ltd), the Pale Maiden Fisheries Ltd, and additional sponsors; penguin adopters, volunteers
B&B, Bleaker Island, International Tours the Falkland Islands Development
& Travel, JD Robertson, Pebble Island Corporation, South American Atlantic and sponsors. We wish to thank
Lodge, Morrison’s Falklands Ltd, The Services, Interserve Defence Ltd and RBC you all.
Steeple Jason gentoo penguin colony
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