Environment

Jerry Stanford, Haven Master at Bristol Port Company continued the talks on the session theme of Governance and collaboration. During his talk he shared the role of Bristol Port and the challenging environment of the estuary and on how they need to manage mud on a grand scale and the marine operations involved and longer term changes and challenges.

John Harrison, Chair of the Severn Estuary Partnership opened the session theme on Governance and collaboration. The Severn Estuary Partnership working in partnership for the future of the Severn Estuary. In his talk, John shared an overview of Severn Estuary Partnership, their revised vision and strategy and next steps and the challenges and opportunities for governance in the estuary.

Co-Chair for the conference, Jane Davidson, Pro-Vice Chancellor for External Engagement and Sustainability at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David opened the afternoon session on Environmental Vision for the Estuary. Gwyn Williams, Head of Conservation Investment with the RSPB delivered a presentation entitled Desperately Seeking Sustainability? or An Environmental Vision for the Severn Estuary. During his talk, Gwyn shared that nature is in trouble and asked a key question: can low carbon energy be generated without harming nature?

After the welcome and opening to the event Co-chair Johnny Gowdy, Director at Regen presented on ‘Why Sustainable Severn’.
In his opening presentation Johnny spoke about as the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary become the focus for new energy including tidal lagoons and Hinckley C, the estuary is entering a period of radical change.
Building on the themes from the previous two forums of energy, environment and economy, and introduced that the conference will consider how we can deliver new energy projects in balance with the environment and the economy.