UK’s Darwin Initiative gets £8m more for conservation

(CNS): The UK government has committed to setting aside £2 million for conservation projects in UK Overseas Territories and a further £6 million for such projects in developing countries under the continuing Darwin Initiative, which aims to help safeguard the world's biodiversity. The 14 overseas territories are home to an estimated 90% of the biodiversity found with in the UK and Territories. The series of initiatives, expected to start in April 2014, will focus on protecting wildlife and habitats but also supporting the local communities. 

Following the funding announcement, the UK's Environment Minister, Richard Benyon, said, “Over the years the Darwin Initiative has funded many projects across the globe – from helping to protect the critically endangered Bengal Florican bird to supportingunder-threat populations of rare animals like the pygmy hippopotamus. That is why I am so pleased to be able to announce a further £8 million to continue this legacy. This extra money will save many more vulnerable species while supporting the local communities who depend on them for their livelihoods.”

Since 1992, the Initiative has committed £97 million of funding to more than 800 projects in over 150 countries. Projects in the Overseas Territories, include lionfish control in the Caribbean, seabird monitoring in the southern ocean and a census of rare plants in St Helena.