Calling ecologists working in the UK’s Overseas Territories

If you are an ecologist working in one of the UK’s Overseas Territories (OTs), you could help inform the new UK Overseas Territory Biodiversity Strategy, which is being developed by Defra (the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) and the JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) along with representatives of the OTs.

UK OTs support a wide range of highly biodiverse ecosystems, and Defra has launched a call for evidence to advise the new strategy which will aim to better protect these vital global biodiversity hotspots.

The current UK OT Biodiversity Strategy was last revised in 2014 and needs updating in line with the UK’s commitments at COP15 in December, which included a target to halt and reverse the decline of biodiversity by 2030.

Defra wants to consult as widely as possible on the development of the new strategy and is seeking responses from researchers working in biodiversity conservation in the OTs. The consultation includes questions asking for feedback on the current strategy and priorities for the new strategy.

Find out more and reply to the consultation here. At the BES we are interested in how many of our members are working in UK OTs, so please let us know if you are responding to the consultation!