East Suffolk Council
Council supports bid for UNESCO World Heritage status
East Suffolk Council has expressed its support for UNESCO World Heritage status to be awarded to coastal wetlands located on a globally important route for migratory waterbirds.
The East Coast Flyway, which runs from the Humber Estuary to the mouth of the Thames and has RSPB Minsmere at its heart, was recently selected as one of five tentative sites nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status by UK Government.
The wetlands along our East Coast support over 155 different bird species, many of which migrate thousands of miles from the Arctic, Northern Canada, Greenland and Siberia to the UK East coast with some continuing their journeys to winter in Africa. Hence the full name of the route as the East Atlantic Flyway.
These East Coast wetlands are a winter home to more than one million waterbirds and are a global exemplar of nature conservation management with some leading examples of well-planned adaptation in response to climate change.
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said:
“The East Atlantic Flyway and our coastal wetlands are part of a globally significant network for migratory birds. We are so fortunate in East Suffolk to be part of an exceptional, extensive and biodiverse habitat across this open coast eco-system. Recognition by UNESCO as to the importance of this coastline would create a lever for investment in local communities, provide enhanced health and wellbeing for residents and visitors, improve ecotourism, infrastructure, research and educational opportunities. It would put East Suffolk on the global map and bring it the international recognition it deserves.”
The Council has also agreed to work cross-party with other local authorities and relevant stakeholders across the UK and globally to support this application.
The wetlands being put forward for World Heritage Site Status include several sites within East Suffolk including Benacre to Easton Bavents, Minsmere to Walberswick, the Alde-Ore estuary and the Deben estuary.
The area was added by the Government to the UK Tentative List of Potential World Heritage Sites in April 2023 and the UNESCO list in September 2023.