United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOT's)

Jamestown, St. Helena

As an extension of the UK Flora Programme, which is now drawing to a close, it was decided to extend the work to the UK's Overseas Territories (OTs). These remaining fragments of the British Empire are largely self-governing, but the UK Government retains formal responsibility for defence, external affairs, security and public services. It also has a nominal responsibility for conservation, though in practice much of the practical work is carried out by local government departments or NGOs.

The Overseas Territories are almost all - with the exception of Gibraltar and the British Antarctic Territory - small islands, and as such face the conservation challenges common to many of the world's islands, such as invasive alien plant species, introduced animals, tourist pressure, etc. However, despite these pressures, many of the OTs remain floristically very diverse, with high rates of endemism.

Though some of the OTs are tax havens or receive a significant income from tourism, many of them have a relatively low per capita income. However, the political link to the UK means that they are often regarded as part of the 'developed world' and thus not eligible for the funding which is available to countries with similar economies. This necessarily has an impacst on conservation work.

Anegada, British Virgin Islands

Fortunately, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) administers an Environment Programme for the Overseas Territories, and this has facilitated a range of projects throughout the OTs, from publicity and awareness-raising to practical conservation action. This Programme generously funded a pilot project of seed conservation work in four of the OTs - the Falklands, Ascension, St. Helena and the British Virgin Islands.

The MSBP's work in the UK Overseas Territories is currently being extended to cover Montserrat, the Cayman Islands and the Turks & Caicos Islands.