Green Lizard Project

Law firm champions Jersey's endangered green lizard

Jersey's Environment Division has joined with law firm Walkers to launch a combined initiative to promote the conservation of the Island's green lizard population.

Last year, the States of Jersey Environment Division established survival plans, called Biodiversity Action Plans, for every threatened and protected species and habitat in Jersey. The plans include 51 species that are protected, rare, declining or significant in Jersey, with Jersey's green lizard being one of them. Walkers has now become the first champion for one of the plans and has given a three year commitment to help maintain the green lizard's existing habitats, raise money and encourage Islanders to get involved in its protection.

Deputy Anne Pryke, Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment, said: “We are the only place in the British Isles to have a native population of protected green lizards. The green lizard biodiversity action plan was set up because we realised that the island's population is at risk of decline. Our aim is to get people involved in species and habitat protection and the much needed support from the Island's private sector will help us achieve this. We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Walkers and extremely grateful to them for agreeing to commit their company time and resources to protect the Island's green lizard. Jersey has an amazing amount of wildlife and it is crucial that Islanders understand the important role reptiles and amphibians play within our delicate eco-infrastructure.”

Under the green lizard biodiversity action plan, the Environment Division plans to ensure its survival by:
Protecting the species
Safeguarding and managing known sites
Continue to monitor and research the population
Introducing financial support through the Countryside Renewal Scheme to maintain or improve suitable habitats.

Walkers has committed:
to be the champion of the green lizard for three years
to design, produce and donate a limited edition green lizard toy which will be sold to raise money for the project
to provide administrative, marketing and public relations support
to assist the Environment Division in maintaining the green lizard habitat by gorse and bracken clearing

Julie Melia, Walkers' Managing Partner, said: “We want to make a difference to Jersey's environment and we are looking forward to working closely with the Environment Department to raise awareness of these beautiful creatures and ensure that they remain a permanent feature of our coastal areas".

“Walkers is a global company with our main office in the Cayman Islands where we have run a similar project for several years to support the Cayman blue iguana. We have produced a series of limited edition blue iguana toys, and profits from their sale have helped secure their future. There has been a significant increase in the numbers of blue iguanas in Cayman, and if we can have similar results in Jersey too then this will have been a success.”

Fundraising lizard toys go on sale

Walkers has also produced a branded green lizard, which the firm will give as gifts. Islanders are being asked to support Jersey's native green lizard by buying toys that go are on sale.

The toys will be available from Kempt Tower visitor centre and Les Ormes Golf & Leisure Village. Walkers has donated 300 of the specifically made soft toys to raise money for Jersey's native population of green lizards.

Julie Melia, managing partner of Walkers, said: “As the first champions of the Environment Division's Green Lizard Bio-Diversity Action Plan, we decided to set up the Green Lizard Project to raise money and to prevent further decline to Jersey's current population. We hope these toys will remind Islanders of the need to protect our native species. Not only do they make a lovely Christmas present but they should help ensure the future of the green lizard.”

The Green Lizard Project supports the work of JARG. John Pinel, JARG committee member, said: “We are extremely grateful for Walkers to have designed the toy and for making people aware of the plight of our green lizards. If all the toys are sold, Walkers will have raised £1800 to fund the work of JARG. Because we are an independent and non-profit group, this money is crucial to our on-going understanding, protection and conservation of the green lizard.”

As part of their commitment to the protection of the green lizard, Walkers are also launching a Green Lizard Project website This will provide a base for various information such as how to identify green lizards.