Jersey environmental projects receive prestigious awards and grants

Monday, 23 June 2025 08:00

The Société Jersiaise has given awards to worthy environment and natural history projects.

Two projects - focusing on wildlife conservation and protection - have been awarded Natural History grants.

The Nigel Quérée Environment Award, named after one of Jersey’s most prominent environmentalists, recognises relevant research, field work and other projects.

Joshua Smith, PhD student from JICAS (Jersey International Centre for Advanced Studies), received the award for his 'Mow vs Moo' project.

The abandonment of grazing pressures triggered declines in the floral and faunal species. One of which is the sharp decline of local skylark breeding populations.

In response, many of the islands established conservation grazing herds to improve grassland quality.

Joshua is researching the differences and implications of different management of grasslands in the Channel Islands, from hay cutting to grazing, and their impact on biodiversity and carbon stocks.

The Roderick Dobson Natural History Award was established in memory of Roderick Dobson, one of Jersey’s most distinguished field naturalists.

The recipient, Rees Monet, a PhD student, is aiming to improve the protection of coastal sharks and skates in the Channel Islands.

The tracking of key species will be led by researchers from Jersey Marine Resources, JICAS, and the University of Exeter.

Species will include the critically endangered Tope shark (whose population has fallen by over 80% in recent generations) and three commercially important skate species.

The data is expected to support more effective fisheries management and could serve as a model for other coastal regions facing similar challenges.

The Société Jersiaise has a range of scholarships and grants across five different awards.