§ Dr.TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development projects her Department supports which involve the protection of apes. [148834]
§ Clare ShortOur primary aim is poverty reduction. We are not directly involved in ape protection projects. The sustainable management of ecosystems is important in improving poor peoples' livelihood and in some cases contributes to the conservation of apes and their habitats, principally through support for sustainable forest management. For example, we have recently agreed a £25 million programme to tackle illegal exploitation of forest resources in Indonesia.