UK earmarks £40 m to over 80 projects for protecting wildlife, biodiversity

29 / 04 / 2023

By Marwa Nassar - -

The UK government has allocated about £40 million to over 80 projects from Ghana to Ecuador support global action to protect wildlife and biodiversity.

Threatened plants and animals, including elephants and pangolins are set to be protected thanks to new UK government funding announced on April 29.

The projects – to be implemented under the Darwin Initiative and Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund – aimed at boosting international biodiversity, supporting the communities that live alongside nature and tackling illegal wildlife trade.

UK Environment Minister Trudy Harrison said “The fantastic projects announced today will enhance efforts to protect threatened wildlife, support economic growth of developing countries and drive nature recovery.”

“The UK is a global champion when it comes to biodiversity and driving action to halt and reverse the decline of nature. I am proud that – through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the Darwin Initiative – we will continue to play a leading role in conservation efforts around the world.”

Dr Charudutt Mishra, from the International Snow Leopard Trust said “The snow leopard, an iconic species of Asia’s high mountains, is threatened by retaliatory killing due to their predation on livestock, and illegal trade of its pelt and other body parts. With support from the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, we are empowering local and indigenous communities of High Asia with livelihood and conflict management initiatives to enable them to better coexist with snow leopards, and to support conservation efforts.”

“We are also helping rangers improve their capacity and motivation in Illegal Wildlife Trade disruption with training, resources and enhanced social recognition in three countries.”

Chair of the Darwin Expert Committee Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland said “I’m thrilled that the Darwin Initiative is funding such a wide range of outstanding projects, which will improve both biodiversity and human wellbeing in such a diversity of ways and in so many places. These projects bring fresh thinking and new ideas to conservation practice, produce evidence to support better conservation, as well as building the capacity of the next generation of conservationists around the world.”

“It was a pleasure and honor to support Defra in their selection of these projects and I look forward to a new set of exciting proposals in the upcoming 30th round of the Darwin Initiative.”