§ 18. Mr. RandallTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress her Department has made in implementing the convention on biological diversity.[34646]
§ Clare ShortMy Department supports the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity by helping poor people in developing countries to manage and benefit from their biodiversity. Since 1992, we have committed over £185 million in support of a wide range of biodiversity programmes in over 40 developing countries, including management of ecosystems, institution building, research and training and education. We have also committed over £130 million since 1991 to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which is the financial mechanism for the Convention. Since 1991, the GEF has committed over $600 million in support of the Convention, which represents nearly 40% of its total commitments to the global environment.
The Department for International Development is currently reviewing its strategy of support for biodiversity and expects to issue a revised strategy at the Fourth Conference of the Parties to the Biodiversity Convention in Bratislava in May.