Cayman Stingray The Overseas Territories contain a range of habitats and environments of global significance. An important aspect of British aid to the Territories – as well as in the wider programme throughout the rest of the world – is help with conserving and managing the environment. In June 1999, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and a number of non-governmental organisations organised a conference in London to discuss ideas for an Environmental Charter for the Overseas Territories. The resulting Charters are formal, individual agreements, which list commitments to develop and implement sound environmental management practices in the Overseas Territories and clarify the roles and responsibilities of the UK government, Overseas Territory governments, the private sector, NGO's and local communities. Copies of Charters for individual Territories can be found at: UK Overseas Territories Environment Charters

A new £3 million Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP), a joint programme of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was designed to support the implementation of the Environment Charters, and environmental management more generally, in the UK Overseas Territories. This has now been extended with an annual budget of £1,000,000, FCO and DFID each providing £500,000.

Overseas Territories are also eligible to apply for funding under the Darwin Initiative (administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)). Further information on accessing Darwin funds can be found at www.darwin.gov.uk