UK gives £64m package to Colombia to help protect rainforests and biodiversity - iNews

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A £64 million funding package to protect the Amazon and tropical rainforests in Colombia was announced to mark World Environment Day.

COP26 President and Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, said the money was part of the UK’s commitment to fight global climate change.

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.

Large swathes of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest perished in fires last summer
(Photo: Joao Laet/AFP)

It comes as many are fearful of the fate of the rainforest given that Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro has insisted he will exploit its riches.

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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