§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is currently granted by the Overseas Development Administration to help lower income signatory countries to implement action under(a) the Ramsar convention for the conservation of wetlands of international importance, (b) the convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, (c) the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and (d) the convention of the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe ODA funds a number of projects to support wildlife (biodiversity) and habitat conservation in developing countries which would assist them to implement action under the wildlife conventions mentioned. Since 1990 the ODA has committed over £20 million to such projects. Lists of projects are available in the Library of the House.
In addition, the Government:
- (a) contributed about £34,000 in 1992 to the Ramsar Convention Trust Fund and gave a grant of £5,700 to support a Ramsar-related workshop for developing countries of south and west Asia;
- (b) contributed about £90,000 in 1992 towards the World Heritage Fund;
- (c) makes an annual contribution of about £85,000 to the CITES Trust Fund; has given an extra £40,000 to improve the international enforcement of CITES; makes an annual contribution of £10,000 to assist developing country delegates to attend CITES meetings, and has pledged £600,000 to support African elephant conservation projects, and
- (d) contributed about £45,000 in 1992 to the Bonn Convention Trust Fund.