Darwin Initiative

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

"The aim of the Initiative is to assist those countries which are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 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 Advisory Committee
Accessed April 2009:


 * David Macdonald (chairman) 	2003 - 2008
 * Kerry ten-Kate 	2003 - 2009
 * Eimear Nic-Lughada 	2003 - 2009
 * Philip Rainbow 	2003 - 2009
 * Johannes Vogel 	2005 - 2008
 * Karen Laurenson 	2005 - 2008
 * Nigel Leader-Williams 	2006 - 2009
 * Janet Barber 	2006 - 2009
 * Rosalind Aveling 	2006 - 2009

Ex-Officio members
 * Vin Fleming (JNCC) 	from 2003
 * Dilys Roe (DFID) 	from 2008
 * Martin Brasher (Defra) 	from 2006

Defra provides the Secretariat to the Committee. Presently the team has two members - Eric Blencowe and Vicki Giles.

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development
 * Global Diversity Foundation
 * Juliet Rose
 * Jacqueline McGlade