The United Kingdom government announced new funding for large-scale projects to address nature loss and strengthen biodiversity recovery in the UK Overseas Territories. The Darwin Plus Strategic Fund will support projects worth up to £3 million ($3.79 million) over the next three years. The funding aims to tackle invasive species, improve important habitats like cloud forests and coral reefs, and expand monitoring of climatic instability to improve resilience.
The UK Minister for Natural Environment and Land Use, Trudy Harrison, emphasised the importance of protecting the unique habitats and diverse wildlife of the UK Overseas Territories for future generations. The funding will help achieve the goal of halting biodiversity decline by 2030 and improving species abundance by 10% by 2042.
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The new fund complements the existing funding schemes, which include the original Darwin Plus Fund, the Darwin Plus Fellowships Fund, and the Darwin Plus Local Fund. Since 2012, the Darwin Plus programme has invested over £45 million in more than 240 biodiversity and conservation projects in the UK Overseas Territories. The Darwin Plus Local Fund will support small-scale environmental projects and contribute to local economies. The fund was launched in January 2023 and is open to individuals and organisations for projects up to a maximum of £50,000. The new funding of £10 million ($12.64 million) per year until 2025 will support further projects.
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Some of the existing projects that will receive funding include support for Bermuda’s Living Reefs Foundation, biodiversity surveys in Antarctica, and the protection of endemic ghost orchids in the Cayman Islands. Overall, the funding shows the UK government's commitment to protecting and conserving the unique biodiversity of the UK Overseas Territories, some of the most nature-rich and bio-diverse areas in the world.
Protecting Earth’s biodiversity is a collective responsibility best carried out if we all collaborate. While governments’ efforts in protecting biodiversity are significant, everyone should be part of this important cause. That is why the private sector can and should play a significant role. In our projects, DGB Group partners with governments and local authorities, communities, and other stakeholders to ensure the long-term success of our nature-based projects that protect and restore biodiversity.
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