Tell it to the birds

Associated British Ports (ABP) and leading UK conservation оrganizations have reached an agreement to safeguard the future of the Humber Estuary as one of Britain’s key habitats for migrating birds.

As previously reported in WorldCargo News, ABP has applied for Harbour Revision Or- ders to develop two riverside berths on the Humber, both planned to become operational in a year. The Immingham Outer Harbour development will con­sist of four deepwater ro-ro berths adjacent to Humber International Terminal. Projected capital cost is £55 mill.

The aforesaid quay is the proposed riverside berth development near Alexandra Dock in Hull, designed to accommodate larger container vessels than can currently be han­dled. Projected capital cost of this development is £40 mill.

Leading conservation bodies have now agreed to withdraw their objections, as ABP has un­dertaken to provide new wildlife habitat. The deal has been reached without the need for a potentially lengthy and costly public inquiry.

The proposed developments would result in a loss of about 31 hectares of inter-tidal mudflats currently used by migrating birds. ABP has committed to the crea­tion of 57 hectares of mudflat and salt marsh and 6 hectares of grass­land on the Humber Estuary to replace habitats that will be dam­aged due to new port develop­ments. This compensatory meas­ure should enable waders and wildfowl to continue to use the estuary as a “filling station” on their migrations.

It is estimated that over 175,000 water birds feed and roost on the Humber Estuary over the winter months, and even more pass through the estuary en route to southern Europe and Af­rica, or to Iceland and the Scandinavian countries. The Humber Estuary, with its exten­sive mudflats and salt marshes, is vital to the survival of these birds.

The conservation bodies in­volved in the agreement will con­tinue to collaborate closely with ABP throughout the construc­tion phases to ensure that the de­velopments minimize adverse ef­fects on the environment and that the compensatory habitats meet the needs of wildlife affected by the schemes.

Vocabulary

environment – окружающая среда

associated – объединённый

conservation – заповедник; сохранение

reach – достигать

agreement – соглашение

safeguard – охранять

estuary – устье реки

habitat – среда обитания

migrate – мигрировать, перелетать

apply –обращаться

revision – исправление, переработка

order – распоряжение

adjacent – примыкающий

mill = million

aforesaid – вышеупомянутый

bodies – руководство

withdraw – отзывать

objection – возражение

wildlife – живая природа

deal – сделка, договорённость

costly – дорогостоящий

inquiry – запрос; исследование

public – общественный; публичный

result in – приводить к

loss – потеря

inter-tidal – образующийся между прили-

вами

mudflat – иловое мелководье

currently – в настоящее время

commit – приступить

creation – создание

marsh – болото, топь

grassland – луг, пастбище

replace – заменять

due to – из-за

measure – мера

enable – дать возможность

wader – болотная птица

wildfowl – дикие птицы

filling – заправочный

estimate – подсчитывать

feed – питаться, кормиться

roost – устраиваться на ночлег

en route – по пути

extensive – обширный

vital – жизненно важный

survival – выживание

involve – вовлекать

collaborate – сотрудничать

closely – тесно

throughout – на всём протяжении

construction – строительство

adverse – вредный

effect – действие

affect – затрагивать, влиять

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14