UK cuts Darwin Initiative funding, 89 countries lose eligibility

The Story

The Guardian has reported that the UK’s Darwin Initiative, a long-standing fund for global nature protection, is being drastically cut back. At least 89 countries will lose eligibility for biodiversity project funding under the program, a development that conservationists warn will jeopardize species and habitats and undermine global efforts to halt nature decline. The regions being dropped include most of Africa, central Asia, and parts of Latin America; specific countries listed include Argentina, Iran, Sudan, Chad, Mali, Angola, and Armenia. The cuts come amid reductions to the UK’s international aid budget and follow a pattern of scaling back climate and nature finance, including reducing climate finance to £2bn per year. The Darwin Initiative was launched in 1992 by then-Prime Minister John Major at the Rio earth summit. A Defra spokesperson stated the government is focusing funding where biodiversity loss is most acute to deliver the greatest impact.

Key Facts

• At least 89 countries will lose eligibility for Darwin Initiative biodiversity project funding.
• Regions dropped include most of Africa, central Asia, and parts of Latin America; countries include Argentina, Iran, Sudan, Chad, Mali, Angola, and Armenia.
• The Darwin Initiative began in 1992, announced by Prime Minister John Major at the Rio earth summit.
• Andrew Terry of ZSL warned the cuts risk undermining trust in international biodiversity finance commitments.
• Catherine Weller of Fauna & Flora said she was shocked by the scale of geographies excluded.
• Some excluded countries – China, India, Mexico, Turkey – are emerging economies; international development minister Jenny Chapman earlier said the UK would stop supporting G20 countries with aid.
• Brazil and Indonesia remain eligible despite being G20 members.
• Existing funds will not be cut, but the overall reduction amount is not yet clear.
• The news follows a UK-hosted international aid conference where climate and nature spending were celebrated.
• A report by UK spy chiefs on ecosystem collapse as a national security risk has not been acted on, according to conservationists.
• Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper spoke of “shared humanity” at the aid conference.
• Defra spokesperson said the UK is focusing funding where biodiversity loss is most acute to achieve the greatest measurable difference.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

• By how much the overall Darwin Initiative funding will be reduced.
• Whether further cuts to nature projects beyond the Darwin Initiative will occur (the article states these are likely the first of many).

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• Andrew Terry – ZSL’s Director of Conservation and Policy
• Catherine Weller – Director of Policy at Fauna & Flora
• Adrian Gahan – Campaign for Nature
• Jenny Chapman – International development minister
• Yvette Cooper – Foreign secretary
• John Major – former UK prime minister
• Defra spokesperson (unnamed)

Sources: The Guardian