The Darwin Initiative
The Darwin Initiative is a UK government grants scheme that helps to protect biodiversity and the natural environment through locally based projects worldwide.
What we do
The initiative funds projects that help countries rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to meet their objectives under one or more of the following biodiversity conventions:
- the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
- the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing
- the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Apply for funding
Read the details of the different schemes and how to apply.
Projects typically try to address threats to biodiversity such as:
- over-exploitation
- invasive species
- habitat degradation and loss
- climate change mitigation and adaptation
- pollution
You can look up current and past projects in the Darwin projects database.
Darwin Expert Committee
The Darwin Expert Committee (currently chaired by Professor Stephen Blackmore), consists of experts from government, academia, science and the private sector. The committee advises ministers on development of the initiative, reviews applications and makes recommendations to ministers on applications for funding.
| Name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Professor Stephen Blackmore (Chair) | |
| Mr Martin Brasher | Independent |
| Dr Mark Collins | Independent |
| Ms Joanna Elliott | Fauna and Flora International (FFI) |
| Mr Alistair Gammell | Independent |
| Professor Mary Gibby | RBG Edinburgh |
| Professor Brendan Godley | University of Exeter |
| Professor Iain Gordon James | Hutton Institute |
| Dr Keith Hamer | University of Leeds |
| Mr Matthew Hatchwell | Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) |
| Dr Gary Martin | Global Diversity Foundation |
| Professor EJ Milner-Gulland | Imperial College, London |
| Dr Shaun Russell | Bangor University |
| Professor Monique Simmonds | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |
| Dr Rachel Wynberg | University of Cape Town |
| Ex-officio members: | |
| Dr Vincent Fleming | JNCC |
Contact
For questions about policy, contact the Darwin Secretariat at the Department for Food and Rural Affairs.
Email: darwin@defra.gsi.gov.uk
For queries about project applications, contact the applications team.
Email: darwin-applications@ltsi.co.uk
For queries relating to new and existing projects, contact the project administrators.
Email: darwin-projects@ltsi.co.uk
Telephone: Eilidh Young on 0131 440 5181
For queries about project finance, contact the finance section.
Email: darwin-finance@ltsi.co.uk
Darwin Initiative
LTS International
Pentlands Science Park
Bush Loan
Penicuik
EH26 0PL
