{"id":599350,"date":"2025-11-28T14:22:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T14:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/599350\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T14:22:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T14:22:13","slug":"uks-overseas-wildlife-hotspots-to-benefit-under-new-strategy-department-for-environment-food-and-rural-affairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/599350\/","title":{"rendered":"UK\u2019s overseas wildlife hotspots to benefit under new strategy | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>For first time UK government and all our Overseas Territories unite behind a joint ambitious and actionable biodiversity strategy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>UK\u2019s Overseas Territories are home to 94% of the UK\u2019s unique species and a quarter of the world\u2019s penguins<\/li>\n<li>Over 1,800 endemic species live in the Overseas Territories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The emperor penguin and the green turtle are among the much-loved species set to benefit from a new strategy launched today (28th\u00a0November) to safeguard our world-leading wildlife hotspots.<\/p>\n<p>The strategy, developed\u00a0jointly with the governments and administrations across the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs), sets\u00a0out a new ambitious framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss across territories spanning from the Antarctic to the Caribbean, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The territories are home to globally important nature, supporting every one of Earth\u2019s major ecosystems, from coral reefs and rainforests to polar tundra. This includes important habitats for green turtles, including the second largest Green Turtle rookery in the Atlantic Ocean on Ascension Island. The territories also provide homes for a quarter of the world\u2019s penguins, including emperor, rockhopper and macaroni penguins.<\/p>\n<p>Over 40,000 species have been recorded across the\u00a0territories to date with 1,851 found nowhere else on earth. Examples of these endemic and unique species include the mountain chicken frog &#8211; which resides in Monseratt and is 40 times larger than its European counterparts with the ability to\u00a0jump up to 2 metres &#8211; and the Bermuda petrel bird, which is known as a \u2018Lazarus species\u2019 since it was rediscovered after having been thought to be extinct for 300 years.<\/p>\n<p>Many of these species are now threatened with extinction due to climate change, pollution and habitat loss, and invasive species with this new strategy marking a significant step change in international collaboration and is the first time that the UK Overseas Territories have rallied behind a single, shared ambition to\u00a0protect their unique biodiversity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nature Minister Mary Creagh \u200bsaid:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe are blessed with remarkable wildlife in our Overseas Territories from the polar landscapes of British Antarctica to the cloud forests of St Helena \u2013 there are thousands of species that cannot be found anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, this precious biodiversity is under threat from global warming and it is our duty to protect it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor the first time all 14 UK Overseas Territories have signed off this strategy to safeguard these treasured species in these iconic places.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Minister for the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty \u200bsaid:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cOur Overseas Territories are vital custodians of our oceans and ecosystems \u2013 overseeing 94% of Britain\u2019s unique species. With many of the territories positioned on the front lines of the climate crisis, we are absolutely committed to preserving and protecting these habitats into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis strategy marks an important moment in our collaboration with our partners across the Overseas Territories, uniting us for the first time behind a shared ambition to protect their unique and extraordinary biodiversity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>John Cortes, Environment Minister for Gibraltar, \u200bsaid:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThis strategy is the result of tremendous collaborative work by many people, in the OTs and in the UK, and of many years of study into our unique biodiversity. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is an example to others of what can be achieved by working together even if scattered across the globe and sets a challenge to present and future generations to protect the amazing biodiversity that we all treasure.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Dr David Cooper, chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee said:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe UK Overseas Territories represent some of the world\u2019s most pristine wilderness areas, from the mangrove forests of the Cayman Islands to the remote landscapes of South Georgia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis new Biodiversity Strategy will strengthen support for implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, enhance sharing scientific expertise, and foster cross-territory relationships, ensuring these globally important ecosystems continue to thrive and support local economies. Our collective commitment to cooperation is essential for preserving these natural treasures.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy is built around\u00a0a\u00a0joint\u00a0ambition for nature, with\u00a0six overarching goals\u00a0to achieve with clear actions set out which each territory must take to protect their unique biodiversity. It will be reviewed by UKOTs Ministers every three years to ensure it\u00a0remains\u00a0fit for purpose in response to evolving\u00a0challenges. The strategy is backed up by funding from the UK Darwin Plus Funds which recently allocated around \u00a35 million to projects restoring nature in the UK Overseas Territories.<\/p>\n<p>Protecting the nature of the UKOTs is vital to the way of life of their residents, many of whom work in nature dependent sectors like tourism and fishing.\u00a0Safeguarding these\u00a0ecosystems also\u00a0preserves the benefits they provide for\u00a0people and climate resilience, such as the\u00a0sand dunes of Anguilla which protect communities from storm surges, or the\u00a0Cayman mangroves which store carbon.<\/p>\n<p>This strategy forms part of a wider effort by the UK Government to restore nature, including the international commitment to protect 30% of land and seas for nature by 2030.<\/p>\n<p>This strategy is published as leaders from the UK Overseas Territories and UK Ministers gathered\u00a0in London for the Joint Ministerial Council.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTES TO EDITORS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The full strategy document is available\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/uk-overseas-territories-biodiversity-strategy\" style=\"-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-decoration-thickness: max(1px, 0.0625rem); text-underline-offset: 0.1578em; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(29, 112, 184);\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>\u00a0and has six pillars:\n<ul>\n<li>Strengthen and implement management and regulatory frameworks\u00a0&#8211; Territories will\u00a0aim to\u00a0update environmental legislation and strengthen enforcement to support sustainable economic growth.<\/li>\n<li>Enhance environmental resilience\u00a0\u2013 Working to protecting vulnerable ecosystems, managing invasive species, and taking climate adaptation measures to prepare ecosystems for the future.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Champion the benefits of\u00a0nature\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0Promoting the value of biodiversity for the economy,\u00a0society\u00a0and livelihoods.<\/li>\n<li>Reconnect people with nature\u00a0\u2013 Undertaking community engagement and education to create opportunities for citizen science and community participation in conservation.<\/li>\n<li>Develop skills and talent\u00a0\u2013 Providing training and career development opportunities will spread the skills needed to support ecosystems.<\/li>\n<li>Maximise opportunities for funding, partnership and collaboration \u2013 Working to create sustainable financing and partnerships, including working with the private sector.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The 14 UK Overseas Territories covered by this strategy are: Anguilla, Ascension, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Tristan da Cunha, and Turks and Caicos Islands.<\/li>\n<li>For more information &#8211; \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fukota.org%2Fresources%2Fportcullis-house-exhibition%2Fbiodiversity%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CAlex.Walsh%40defra.gov.uk%7Cfa7f9cbce8e24b23e87508de2ccf333e%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638997465742608580%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=dz6M19eRE1HfC9H5y%2BV555L040mqq2XsiBQChsEf73c%3D&amp;reserved=0\" rel=\"external noopener\" style=\"-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-decoration-thickness: max(1px, 0.0625rem); text-underline-offset: 0.1578em; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(29, 112, 184);\" target=\"_blank\">Biodiversity &#8211; UKOTA<\/a>\u00a0and UK support for the UKOTs:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdarwinplus.org.uk%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CAlex.Walsh%40defra.gov.uk%7Cfa7f9cbce8e24b23e87508de2ccf333e%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638997465742627353%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ccPE73ZSELhfsB0cmcY%2B%2FQiArGIHMvwlGbUOGZsEFw8%3D&amp;reserved=0\" rel=\"external noopener\" style=\"-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-decoration-thickness: max(1px, 0.0625rem); text-underline-offset: 0.1578em; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(29, 112, 184);\" target=\"_blank\">Darwin Plus<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For first time UK government and all our Overseas Territories unite behind a joint ambitious and actionable biodiversity&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":135864,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[188143,55468,188144,63513,188145,4675,748,1881,188142,41227,393,728,2307,14093,4884,188146,32453,5026,1144,35793,712,20573,188140,16,188141,15,1764],"class_list":{"0":"post-599350","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uk","8":"category-united-kingdom","9":"tag-anguilla","10":"tag-antarctic","11":"tag-ascension","12":"tag-atlantic","13":"tag-bermuda","14":"tag-biodiversity","15":"tag-britain","16":"tag-british","17":"tag-cayman","18":"tag-darwin","19":"tag-england","20":"tag-environment","21":"tag-georgia","22":"tag-gibraltar","23":"tag-great-britain","24":"tag-helena","25":"tag-islands","26":"tag-minister","27":"tag-northern-ireland","28":"tag-overseas","29":"tag-scotland","30":"tag-south","31":"tag-territories","32":"tag-uk","33":"tag-ukots","34":"tag-united-kingdom","35":"tag-wales"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115627776009006014","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=599350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=599350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=599350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=599350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}