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Rachel Reeves threatens rare nature across the world if she makes one key decision

2025-05-30 00:00:00.0 每日快报-政治原网页

Rachel Reeves will give her first spending review next month (Image: Getty/Alastair Wilson)

Rachel Reeves risks threatening rare nature and wildlife on the UK's Overseas Territories by axing a vital fund, environmentalists have warned. The UK Government previously committed ￡10 million to the Darwin Plus scheme - which conserves nature in places like the Falkland Islands and South Georgia - each year.

But the RSPB said this has now been suspended and the spending review next month will determine if it continues. Sources have reportedly told the group it may not continue which has sparked huge concern among green groups and MPs.

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Andrew Rosindell MP, Shadow Minister for the British Overseas Territories, said: “As someone who has long championed our British Overseas Territories in Parliament, I am deeply dismayed to hear that Rachel Reeves may axe the Darwin Plus scheme. This programme has been essential in protecting the unique environments and wildlife of the Territories, home to the vast majority of the UK’s biodiversity.

“Its removal not only threatens vital conservation work, but also sends a troubling signal that these important parts of the British family are being neglected by this government.

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“I would urge the Chancellor to reconsider this decision and reflect on the magnitude of her proposal.”

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A group of six rockhopper penguins (Image: Alastair Wilson)

Katie-jo Luxton, director of conservation at the RSPB, said: “In overall terms, the amounts we are talking about are small but what they deliver for nature, local tourism and jobs in these far-flung British outposts cannot be underestimated. They build resilience to climate change, with healthy mangroves and coral reefs providing cost-effective ways to limit the impact of increasingly ferocious tropical storms.

“If the Government steps away from its relationship with the Territories in this crucial area it will impoverish us all. A lack of investment in conservation puts more wildlife at risk of extinction and it will be a sad indictment of the trusteeship of these special places, making a mockery of the Government’s claim to be an international leader on nature.”

The Government has been contacted for comment.

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CONSERVATIONISTS on the Falkland Islands have warned that the Government’s retreat from environmental support there would “be a real concern”.

Since 2018, the UK has supported green projects on the rugged remote South Atlantic archipelago by providing almost ￡1million a year on average.

This has led to the restoration of carbon-rich peatlands on the British Overseas Territory, as well as the return of endangered sei whales and southern right whales - the latter of which was targeted by industrial whaling.

The work has contributed to preserving 3m-tall Tussac grass, which is important for almost all native birds, including albatrosses.

Money from the Darwin Plus scheme also plays a part in protecting globally threatened rockhopper penguins

The RSPB’s Sacha Cleminson has spent 11 years on the archipelago.

He has raised concerns about the diminished Darwin Plus scheme which is vital for continuing the vital conservation work in the UK’s overseas territories.

Sacha said: “The pot has been shrinking, shrinking and shrinking. And now, we’re getting to the point with the spending review where we’re beginning to wonder whether the pot will disappear completely and there will be no support. I think that would be pretty bad from the perspective of both the climate and biodiversity side of things.”

“After Brexit, the then Chancellor RIshi Sunak increased the Darwin Plus pot, recognising there was no access to EU money. But since 1 April this year, Darwin Plus has effectively been suspended. I know lots of organisations had applied for Darwin Plus funding in 2024. They still haven’t had an answer back on their applications back from last year which is really bad.

“The delay in applications from the government has been a real problem for organisations to retain staff and for planning projects in the future. It’s effectively just completely killed the ability of organisations to deliver these sorts of environmental projects. I completely understand it’s a difficult budget time. Absolutely, completely realise that, and the UK government has a really tough challenge on its hands but the reality is the knock on effects in places like the Falkland Islands.”

The groups in the Falklands cannot access international money pots because of the territory’s link to the UK.

There has been no access to EU funding since Brexit and there is no access to nearly any private funding or statutory/farming subsidies available to landowners in the UK.

Sacha, the RSPB’s principal policy advisor, said: “We’re really worried that a retreat from Darwin Plus will effectively mean a distancing of the UK from the territories. And that’s not great - both from a political perspective and an environmental perspective.”

He added: “[The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] has done a really, really good job in the last four years in making Darwin Plus work for the territories. It’s been a real success story for the British government and that has the potential to be lost which would be a terrible shame.”

By Katie-jo Luxton, director of conservation at the RSPB

Gentoo penguin in South Georgia (Image: Alastair Wilson)

With the breakup of the British Empire, many former colonies voted for separation, but several smaller or more remote territories remained in the British family with democratically elected governments.

These UK Overseas Territories include places like Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, and some like the Falklands and South Georgia are home to huge numbers of penguins.

And it’s not just penguins. Many of these places are biodiversity hotspots, home to creatures found nowhere else on Earth.

To date, 32,216 native species of plants and animals have been recorded across the UK's Overseas Territories, however, the true figure is likely to exceed 100,000 species. That’s roughly 90% of all the nature that the UK Government is responsible for.

A staggering amount, from Wandering Albatrosses to Blue Whales and Iguanas to Spiky Yellow Woodlouse.

The oceans surrounding some of these territories are equally vital. Henderson Island in the Pacific is home to one of the few remaining near-pristine coral ecosystems in the world. These places contribute to the health of our oceans and support fisheries that are vital to local and regional economies.

However, the future for all these unique places and species is uncertain. Since leaving the European Union, the only Government pot of money available for nature conservation in UK Overseas Territories has been the Darwin Plus scheme.

The UK Government previously committed ￡10 million to the fund each year. This has now been suspended and the Comprehensive Spending Review next month will determine if it continues. Inside sources say possibly not.

In overall terms, the amounts we are talking about are small but what they deliver for nature, local tourism and jobs in these far-flung British outposts cannot be underestimated. They build resilience to climate change, with healthy mangroves and coral reefs providing cost-effective ways to limit the impact of increasingly ferocious tropical storms.

If the Government steps away from its relationship with the Territories in this crucial area it will impoverish us all.

A lack of investment in conservation puts more wildlife at risk of extinction and it will be a sad indictment of the trusteeship of these special places, making a mockery of the Government’s claim to be an international leader on nature.

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