The Bishop of Norwich has joined MPs and Peers calling for Britain’s chalk streams to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, recognising them as among the rarest and most important habitats on Earth.
Only around 200 chalk streams are known to exist worldwide. Around 85 per cent are in England, and many of these are in the Diocese of Norwich, including the evocatively-named Babingly, Glaven, Gadder, Ingol, Hun, Stiffkey, Tiffey, Wissey and Wensum.
They support more species of plants than any other English river type and their aquifer-fed, mineral-rich flow provides vital habitat for threatened wildlife including water vole, brown trout, southern damselfly, white-clawed crayfish and Atlantic salmon,
Despite their global importance, most are in poor condition. Over-abstraction is causing some to run dry in the summer, while sewage discharges, agricultural pollution and climate change are placing increasing pressure on the fragile ecosystems.
Fewer than a dozen chalk streams currently benefit from legal protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Giving chalk streams World Heritage status would highlight their importance, strengthen their protection and help unlock funding, research and public engagement to support their recovery.
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, has backed the Chalk Streams (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site) Bill, introduced to Parliament on 25th February.
Bishop Graham said: “People are rightly horrified by the destruction of rainforests thousands of miles away – but sometimes seem less concerned about collapsing ecosystems almost literally on our doorstep.
“Christians are called to advocate for God’s creation. In our nature-impoverished land, this means protecting our heritage of natural wonders, including precious chalk streams.”
Campaigners are also urging the Government to give chalk streams planning protection by listing them alongside ancient woodland as an irreplaceable habit in the National Planning Policy Framework, and to reinvest fines from polluting water companies into a fund for chalk stream restoration.
In October the Bishop of Norwich’s amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, to protect rare chalk streams, was passed by 196 votes to 137 in the House of Lords but subsequently failed to gain approval from the House of Commons. Some concessions were negotiated with the Government, to be included in future legislation.
Picture: River Stiffkey, geograph.org.uk