Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that environmental defenders, including park rangers, are being killed in record numbers globally.

The UK government is committed to supporting those working hard to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Tragically, over 100 rangers have died in the line of duty in the last 12 months, many at the hands of poachers. Through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, Defra has funded three projects supporting park rangers and other environmental defenders. In addition Defra has funded the British Military to provide tracker training for African park rangers, helping to ensure their safety when detecting and disrupting the illegal wildlife trade.