New wetland area created at city wildlife reserve – BBC

Report on Habitat Enhancement at The Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve, Derby

Project Overview and Objectives

A habitat enhancement project has been completed at The Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve, located between Pride Park stadium and the River Derwent in Derby. The initiative, undertaken by Derby City Council at a cost of £43,237.01, aimed to transform a section of the former industrial land into a viable breeding habitat for ground-nesting birds. The project’s primary objective is to establish the reserve as a regionally significant site for avian breeding, thereby contributing to local and national biodiversity targets.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This initiative directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating a commitment to integrating environmental sustainability into urban planning.

• SDG 15: Life on Land: The project is a clear implementation of SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
  • It directly addresses Target 15.5 by taking urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity.
  • By creating specialized breeding grounds, the project aims to protect and support the recovery of vulnerable bird species.
  • The transformation of former industrial land into a thriving wildlife habitat exemplifies the restoration of degraded land, in line with Target 15.1.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The reserve enhances the urban environment, contributing to the goals of making cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
  • It supports Target 11.4 by strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the area’s natural heritage.
  • While public access to the reserve itself is restricted to protect the wildlife, the provision of accessible viewing points aligns with the spirit of Target 11.7, which promotes access to green and public spaces.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project’s funding model showcases effective collaboration.
  • Financing was secured through a combination of the council’s “Our City, Our River” scheme and Section 106 funding contributions from private construction companies.
  • This public-private partnership is a key mechanism for achieving sustainable development, as outlined in SDG 17.

Project Implementation and Habitat Features

The work involved the creation of a mosaic of habitats specifically designed to attract ground-nesting birds. The key environmental modifications include:

1. Creation of plots with short vegetation.
2. Establishment of bare soil and gravelled areas.
3. Installation of permanent water pools.

These features are designed to create favourable breeding conditions for a variety of species.

Target Species and Biodiversity Impact

The enhanced habitat is expected to support the recovery and breeding of several key bird species, contributing significantly to local biodiversity. Target species include:

• Lapwing
• Plover
• Sand Martin
• Reed Bunting
• Skylark
• Blackcap

Stakeholder Assessment

Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council cabinet member, stated that the project demonstrates a commitment to biodiversity and the local environment, ensuring that Derby’s green spaces thrive as crucial breeding grounds. Nick Moyes, who initiated the reserve’s creation in 2004, highlighted its regional importance due to its unique urban location and valuable habitats for numerous bird species.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 15: Life on Land – This goal is central to the article, which focuses on restoring a terrestrial ecosystem (a former industrial wasteland) to create a habitat for wildlife, specifically ground-nesting birds. The project directly contributes to halting biodiversity loss and protecting local species.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The article discusses the creation and enhancement of a green space (The Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve) within an urban area (Derby). It also mentions providing public access points, including for people with disabilities, which aligns with making cities more inclusive and sustainable.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The article directly addresses this target by describing the £43,237.01 project to turn a “muddy patch of wasteland” into a “suitable breeding habitat” for vulnerable species like lapwing, plover, and skylark. The council member’s quote reinforces this, stating the project “supports the recovery of beautiful and vulnerable ground-nesting birds.”
   • Target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…” The project is a clear example of ecosystem restoration, as it involves transforming “former industrial land” into a thriving nature reserve with “plots of short vegetation, bare soil, gravelled areas and permanent water pools.”
2. Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…” While the reserve itself is not open to the public to protect the wildlife, the article explicitly mentions that “there are several viewing points, two with disabled access,” which demonstrates an effort to provide inclusive and accessible ways for the public to engage with this urban green space.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 15.5: The article implies that progress can be measured by monitoring the populations of specific bird species. The success of the project is linked to creating a habitat “favoured for breeding by various species including lapwing, blackcap, plover, blackcap, sand martin, reed bunting, and skylark.” Therefore, an indicator would be the number and diversity of breeding pairs of these target species within the reserve. The ultimate goal of turning the area into “one of the most significant in the region for breeding birds” serves as a qualitative indicator of success.
• For Target 15.1: A direct indicator is the area of degraded land that has been restored. The article identifies the project location as “The Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve,” which was established on “former industrial land.” The physical transformation of this specific area is a measure of progress.
• For Target 11.7: A clear indicator mentioned is the proportion of the urban green space that is accessible to the public, including persons with disabilities. The article provides a specific measure: “several viewing points, two with disabled access,” which can be used to track the provision of accessible infrastructure related to the city’s green spaces.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com