§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what policies her Department has to promote the protection of habitats for wild animals in the developing world. [11006]
§ Clare ShortMy Department aims to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor through the sustainable use and management of wildlife resources and habitats. Our conservation and wildlife activities are therefore developed with particular reference to rural people and their needs in the context of sustainable resource management.
We assist developing countries to maintain wildlife reserves and protect habitats and wildlife through better management and training. Recently we have also encouraged the management by local communities of habitats and wildlife.
We work with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the convention on biological diversity and assistance to other countries on their plans, strategies and activities for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. We provide support through the bilateral development assistance programme and are responsible for UK contribution to the global environment facility, which is the interim financial mechanism for the biodiversity convention.
We have also recently agreed to help the European Commission to develop guidelines on the conservation of wildlife and management of protected areas in co-operation with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.