Defra ‘The British Overseas Territories (‘OTs’) are globally significant in their ecological richness, containing over 90% of the UK’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Constitutional responsibility for decision making in many policy areas relevant to biodiversity and conservation lie with the OTs, which are highly dependent on the assets provided by their natural environment, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, for their economic wellbeing.1
The UK works in partnership with the OTs to deliver both OT- specific objectives and contribute to wider regional and international environmental commitments of the UK and OTs. We want to make sure that this support is as effective as it can be, considering how environmental objectives that contribute to wider regional and global commitments can be met.
The Foreign Affairs Committee’s recent report, ‘Global Britain and the British Overseas Territories: Resetting the Relationship’, highlighted questions regarding environment spend in the British OTs beyond EU Exit, especially as the current Spending Review ends and programme commitments are due to expire.
As announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement package on 13 March 2019, this call for evidence invites ideas on how the government can safeguard the OTs’ biodiversity. It will further look to how outcomes are delivered through existing spend on biodiversity and conservation, and consider whether spend is effectively delivering against environmental objectives.