IN THIS SECTION
Living things in the Harbour
People & the Environment
Land, water and air
Maps
Habitats
RELATED LINKS
People and the environment
Looking after the environment
Human impacts
If humans went away, the environment would look after itself! The problem is that everything we do has some impact on the environment. How many objects can you see in the picture that have been made by people?
For the environment as a whole, we need to find ways to use less energy, especially that from coal, oil and gas and less water; to have enough houses, food and clothes yet still leave space for wildlife. Global warming is happening and we need to cope with the changes that will bring; rising sea levels and climate change.
All these global issues apply to Chichester Harbour as well as local issues such as how the land and water are used and protection of the wildlife.
Everyone should follow the Countryside Code
- Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs
- Leave gates and property as you find them
- Protect plants and animals and take your litter home
- Keep dogs under close control
- Consider other people
We need to take care not to do too much damage to the things we value and to think carefully about any changes we make. However, there are many different users of the harbour (see impact of people) and they do not always agree on what is a good or bad change!
Harbour office
Chichester Harbour is managed by the Conservancy in partnership with other organisations for example the Countryside Agency and English Nature. As well as being a special place for wildlife (see Living Things) it is special for people too.
Chichester Harbour Conservancy has to manage the water and maintain it as a harbour, manage the land around the water for recreation and business, and protect the areas that are special for wildlife.
The harbour is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and should be managed to conserve and enhance natural beauty, while considering the needs of agriculture, forestry, other rural industries and local communities. Use of the area for recreation is encouraged as long as it does not affect the natural beauty of the area. Sustainable development should be promoted.
A management plan (The Chichester Harbour AONB Management Plan 2009-2014) has been agreed. Details of this plan can be found on the main harbour website.
Chichester Harbour Management Plan
How do you make such a management plan?
- Start by finding out what the harbour is like now, what is in it, who uses it and why.
- Then think how you would like the harbour to look in the future. Would you like to see houses built all around the edge and more marinas and holiday villages – or should there be less buildings and boats and more birds and saltmarsh?
- Ask all the people who use it or live nearby what they think.
- Balance up the different viewpoints and try to choose the best options for the future of the harbour and the people.
- Now think what needs to be done to make this happen.
- Then make your plan!
Not easy is it? However, that is what the conservancy and its partners did to create their management plan.
Solar boat
Sustainable Development in the harbour
Energy supplies from coal, gas and oil will eventually run out; they are not a sustainable source of energy. Energy from the wind, the sun or waves is always there. The Solar Boat collects energy from the sun to power its motors, an example of sustainable transport.
Bicycles are another form of sustainable transport. To encourage cycling (and hopefully reduce the use of cars) the Conservancy is developing cycle paths. The Salterns Way is an 18km route from the centre of Chichester to East Head.
See the cycling page for details of the route.
Coastal Defences and habitat recreation
Cycling
Habitats such as saltmarsh and mudflats are being ‘squeezed’ between rising sea levels and sea defences such as concrete walls. A more sustainable alternative is to create more saltmarsh and mudflat if the land is available. This also provides more space for the water and may reduce flooding. New saltmarsh is being allowed to develop at Chalkdock near Itchenor and at Thornham Point.
Sustainability is also about working with nature and not just trying to shape the world to suit ourselves. Click here to download an article by Ian McIntyre on ‘Man versus Nature’ in Chichester Harbour - PDF File (422K).