£100m for international forestry projects

£100m has been committed to international forestry projects which provide specific benefits for biodiversity.

The money comes from the new international climate finance included in the Comprehensive Spending Review, where the UK government announced it will provide international climate finance of £2.9bn from 2010/11 to 2014/2015.

It will include new money for the UK’s contribution to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), a programme which aims to prevent the loss of forests in developing countries.

The money will help fund pioneering projects which focus on delivering benefits for the natural environment such as reducing the destruction of habitats and the loss of plants and animals through tackling the fragmentation and degradation of forests.

This will help demonstrate how money for international climate finance can best deliver additional benefits, which is critical if climate, biodiversity and development objectives are to be tackled together.

The funds will help developing countries achieve sustainable, low-carbon development and prepare for the effects of climate change.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: "Tackling deforestation is critical if we are to be successful in our goals to protect biodiversity, tackle climate change and reduce global poverty."

"Forests are home to over half of the world’s plants and animals, and support the livelihoods of over one billion people, while deforestation accounts for almost a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions."

Further information:
Defra