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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to consider the biodiversity of the UK’s Overseas Territories at the forthcoming Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15); and what expectations they have for the contribution that the UK’s Overseas Territories will make in respect of achieving the UK’s overall biodiversity targets.

The UK is seeking an ambitious outcome for nature at COP15. We will be supporting a set of goals and targets to halt and reverse the loss of global biodiversity by 2030. The UK Overseas Territories (OTs) are biodiversity hotspots containing 94% of the UK’s endemic species. The Government recognises the need to continue to support the UK Overseas Territories in protecting their unique environments. Since 2012, Darwin Plus, Defra’s flagship Overseas Territory environmental grants fund, has awarded over £32 million to over 162 projects in the OTs, helping the OTs and the UK to meet international obligations and deliver the UK 25 Year Environment Plan.

The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out the Government’s ambition in protecting biodiversity in the UKOTs. As a result, the Government is taking action to recover threatened, iconic or economically important species of animals, plants and fungi, and where possible to prevent human-induced extinction or loss of known threatened species in the OTs.

Furthermore, supported by the UK Government, OTs have put in place a Blue Belt of marine protection and sustainable management over more than 4 million square kilometres, with more OTs set to join the Programme. This means that the UK has made a significant contribution to protecting 30% of the world’s oceans and their biodiversity.

The Goal and targets agreed at COP15 will be global. All Parties will be expected to contribute according to national circumstances, but the UK will demonstrate global leadership in taking steps to deliver them. Actions taken domestically, and in the OTs, will all have a role to play.