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Defra invests £8 million in wildlife
Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Multi-million pound funding for conservation projects 

Environment minister Richard Benyon has announced that funding of £8 million will be dedicated to conservation and environmental projects worldwide.

The funding has been granted as part of the Darwin Initiative by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Projects in developing countries will receive £6million, while £2million will be available for projects in UK Overseas Territories.

The Darwin Initiative focuses on helping countries that are rich in biodiversity, but lack the money or technology to meet their objectives.

Since beginning in 1992, the initiative has provided funding of £97million to more than 800 projects in 150 countries.

The Darwin Plus Fund is currently supporting a variety of projects in the Overseas Territories, such as monitoring seabirds in the southern ocean and the control of invasive lionfish in the Caribbean.

Approximately 90 per cent of the biodiversity found within the UK and Territories combined, is found within the UK's 14 Overseas Territories.

Applications for funding opened on June 19. For more information, visit the Darwin Initiative website.

Image credit: Nick Hobgood

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.