The UK’s wildlife is certainly engaging, but biodiversity is limited compared to that of the country’s remaining overseas territories, mostly islands
90% of the biodiversity the UK is responsible for is overseas. The astounding variety includes the blue iguana of the Cayman Islands, the Henderson lorikeet and the rockhopper penguin.
All this receives a staggeringly small 0.3% of the biodiversity conservation budget, a sum so far out of proportion it is laughable.
On top of this injustice, the wildlife of overseas territories probably needs more government assistance than our own anyway. The UK is packed with non-profits and charities looking after native British wildlife. Most of these isolated islands are not.
Tell the government to stop forgetting the wildlife of our overseas territories and start devoting at least adequate resources towards conservation.
We the undersigned ask that you start devoting sufficient resources towards the conservation of overseas biodiversity. The UK’s remaining overseas territories contain 90% of the biodiversity we are responsible for, including a large number of critically endangered organisms.
It is therefore staggering that UKOTs only receive 0.3% of the biodiversity conservation budget, something that makes no scientific sense. British butterflies and orchids might be instant crowd pleasers, but overseas wildlife should not be ignored.
Please take immediate action to rectify the situation.
Thank you for your attention.
