SUSTAINABILITY
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FEATURES<br />
The roots of a sustainable MOD<br />
The 1971-73 Nugent Committee looked into the necessity<br />
and management of Defence land holdings. It recognised<br />
the importance of military land for supporting wildlife and<br />
heritage and recommended that the MOD should do more<br />
to reduce environmental impacts of its activities.<br />
Looking back over the past four<br />
decades of Sanctuary provides an<br />
insight into the origins of sustainability<br />
in the Ministry of Defence. It also<br />
tracks 40 years of the changing<br />
approach to achieve sustainable<br />
use, with environmental protection<br />
in balance with development and<br />
socioeconomic needs; and for the<br />
MOD Defence needs.<br />
(especially noise, ‘eyesores’ and<br />
unexploded ordnance); and to actively<br />
manage wildlife, heritage and the<br />
increasing demands for public access<br />
on the Defence estate. The first MOD<br />
Conservation Offcer appointed in 1973<br />
was tasked with forming links between<br />
MOD land managers and civilian<br />
organisations, and co-ordinating<br />
conservation activities.<br />
First editions of Sanctuary were illustrated by Jean<br />
Clayden, wife of the first MOD Conservation Offcer,<br />
Lt Col C N Clayden © Crown<br />
The origins to our approach can be<br />
found in 1973. Prior to this, habitats<br />
and wildlife were managed, but often<br />
as an incidental result of the main<br />
function of the land, and because<br />
of the enthusiasm of amateur<br />
conservationists. The 1971-73 Nugent<br />
Committee looked into the necessity<br />
and management of Defence land<br />
holdings. It recognised the importance<br />
of military land for supporting wildlife<br />
and heritage and recommended that<br />
the MOD should do more to reduce<br />
environmental impacts of its activities<br />
10th Anniversary Edition of Sanctuary Conservation Bulletin © Crown<br />
MOD conservation groups were<br />
formed to liaise between MOD and<br />
the external organisations, develop<br />
conservation management plans, and<br />
implement practical measures. These<br />
were formed with a core of academic<br />
and amateur naturalists, archaeologists<br />
and members of the Service branches<br />
of the Ornithological Society and the<br />
British Deer Society.<br />
Thirty-five groups had been set up<br />
within two years and work started<br />
on a newsletter. The first edition<br />
of Sanctuary was issued in January<br />
1975 and ran to 300 copies, with the<br />
aim of providing the conservation<br />
groups and interested societies with<br />
a roundup of conservation activities<br />
across the estate, and addressing the<br />
issues identified in the Nugent Report.<br />
The distribution steadily increased to<br />
25,000 at its peak in 2004 when it was<br />
sent to a range of MPs, conservation<br />
organisations and members of the<br />
public, until in 2011 when publishing<br />
also moved online.<br />
The forty-four editions of Sanctuary<br />
provide a record of the responses<br />
to environmental issues of the time<br />
and how the MOD has contributed;<br />
such as in 1978, when Sanctuary<br />
reported on the conservation group<br />
at Pendine helping the clean-up<br />
following the oil spill from the Cristos<br />
Bitas; or the amendment of byelaws<br />
to take account of metal detectors<br />
and the protection of archaeology<br />
in 1982 (it is never a good idea to<br />
go digging up metal items on MOD<br />
sites!). It also shows some of the more<br />
unusual issues or requests, including<br />
a request in 1977 from the Scottish<br />
Offce for wood from the MOD estate<br />
in Scotland to re-roof the great hall<br />
of Stirling Castle; how Royal Navy<br />
divers, along with the Egyptian<br />
Navy, helped recover the Gateway of<br />
8<br />
Sanctuary 44 • 2015