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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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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.