UK gives £64m package to Colombia to help protect rainforests and biodiversity - inews
The announcement comes as Brazil continues to incense with its stance on the rainforest and environmental issues
Friday, 5th June 2020, 9:42 pm
Updated Friday, 5th June 2020, 9:44 pm
A £64 million funding package to protect the Amazon and tropical rainforests in Colombia was announced to mark World Environment Day.
Mr Sharma, said: “We all have a duty to work together to protect our planet’s precious biodiversity. Our work with the Colombian government will help stop deforestation in the Amazon and across the country, protect precious ecosystems, and support sustainable, rural livelihoods for communities that depend on the forest.”
Sustainable
Speaking on behalf of the Colombian government, Minister for the Environment, Ricardo Lozano said the fund would help to "focus on supporting the fight against deforestation and environmental crime, as well as the creation of sustainable economic livelihoods."
This funding builds on £173 million of UK support to Colombia and is part of the UK’s International Climate Finance (UK ICF) programme.
Some have interpreted this bumper fund package as a warning to Brazil that unless it changes its stance on environmental issues it will miss out on international aid.
Biodiversity
Colombia is host to nearly 10 per cent of the planet’s biodiversity and has the second-highest biodiversity in the world, behind Brazil.
Dubbed a “megadiverse” country, it ranks first worldwide for bird and orchid species; second for plants, butterflies, freshwater fish and amphibians; and third for species of palm trees and reptiles.
Although Colombia has been a leading voice in South America on environmental issues, the country has seen a spike in deforestation and forest fires in the wake of conflict and the impact of coronavirus.
The UK government confirmed that the UN climate change talks will be held in Glasgow in November 2021.
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