Sustainability Policy

Purpose of Policy

Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) are committed to supporting the policies set out in the Isle of Man Governments' ‘An Agenda for Change’ and contributing to the Island’s unique status as a UNESCO Biosphere. We look to achieve this by reducing our environmental impact on the planet and managing our natural and built environment as sustainably as possible. We strive for a best practice approach in every avenue of our work and to engage with people through our many and varied activities with the aim of gaining their understanding and support.

Commitment to Policy

Our unique and influential position within the Islands community and further afield allows us the opportunity to innovate and lead by example. This can take several forms, such as:

• Sourcing and using resources sustainably
• Conserving and enhancing biodiversity through management, education and engagement.
• Protecting valuable carbon stores such as wetlands, woodlands, upland peat and our seas (blue carbon).
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption.

MWT look to prevent pollution across the Island both on land, in our fresh waters and in the marine environment. We respect the level of protection afforded to the built and natural environment through legislation and we recognize compliance obligations and strive to demonstrate how this can be achieved as a charity and a business.

Our aims are:

• To actively participate in peer-to-peer networks for innovation in sustainability and to contribute to the development of policy and initiatives to promote and campaign for environmental sustainability.
• Act to conserve and manage our land and properties to balance the work of MWT with maximum environmental gain and contribute to landscape scale conservation across the Island.
• Actively engage in partnership working to maximize the benefit of these ecological networks.
• Engage audiences, volunteers, staff and contractors.
• Ensure evidence-based sustainability criteria are applied to the procurement of goods and services, as far as possible, goods, for resale, from local sources.
• Reduce waste generated by our activities.
• Raise awareness of environmentally sustainable choices by embedding the concept of sustainable development into our decision making and operational activities.
• Lead by example and promote best practice.
• Reduce our reliance on the use of natural, non-renewable resources and maximize the efficiency and effectiveness with which they are used and invest in renewable alternatives where possible.
• Reduce the environmental footprint of MWT activities such as travel, exhibitions and events.
• Formulate, publish, implement and monitor these objective aims and review every 3 years for progress and efficiency.
• Promote the continued development of aims and aspirations which relate to this policy.

Application and Review Period

This policy applies to the activities and services provided by Manx Wildlife Trust and Wildlife Limited. It will be made publicly available and will be reviewed at least every three years.