Darwin Initiative

About the Darwin Initiative

The Darwin Initiative was announced by the UK Government at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

The Darwin Initiative assists countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to meet their objectives under one or more of the three major biodiversity Conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES); and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), through the funding of collaborative projects which draw on UK biodiversity expertise.

The Darwin Advisory Committee (currently chaired by Professor David MacDonald), consisting of experts from government, academic, science and the private sector, advises Ministers on development of the Initiative and makes recommendations on applications for funding.

Darwin projects are diverse. Typically, they may address issues in the following areas:

• institutional capacity building
• training
• research
• work to implement the Biodiversity Convention
• environmental education or awareness

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