The UK Government launched a Call for Evidence on safeguarding biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories. Many Overseas Territories are important in their ecological richness, containing over 90 per cent of the UK’s marine and terrestrial nature.They are hubs for biodiversity with approximately 3,300 species, but they are vulnerable to environmental change.
The Call for Evidence is open for ten weeks from 10 May 2019 and closes on 19 July 2019.
It is a call to protect the environment and tackle climate change.
The British Government’s announcement follows the 25 Year Environment Plan which contains a number of goals on improving biodiversity in the Overseas Territories, including the continued implementation of the Blue Belt programme.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove noted
2020 is the year we must all agree on further action for climate, nature and ocean conservation, with appropriate funding to protect and enhance the planet’s most pristine ecosystems for flora and fauna.
Moreover, the Call for Evidence will also get an insight into how the environmental results are existing spending on biodiversity and conservation, and consider whether spending is effective.
Governments around the world must act now to preserve animal and plant species and halt irreversible damage to our planet before it is too late.
… said UK Minister of State for the Overseas Territories, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon.
He continued that the UK supports the Overseas Territories in achieving the UN Sustainable Development goals, including:
- Taking ‘urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’;
- To ‘conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’
- Protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems’, including halting biodiversity loss.
