The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources has received approval for two applications submitted to the new Darwin Plus Local grant programme from the United Kingdom Government.
Darwin Plus is a UK government grants scheme that funds projects that aim to protect the unique biodiversity and improve resilience to climate change within the UK Overseas Territories. Darwin Plus Local is a new programme within the existing Darwin Plus fund, which funds projects to protect the unique biodiversity and improve resilience to climate change within the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). It is available exclusively to applicants from within the UK Overseas Territories. Eligible applicants include Government departments, non-government organisations, and individuals.
Turks and Caicos Islands Government has been awarded two grants under this first-time opportunity. Grant DPL0003 Greening Our Schools – Let’s Think Green!, in partnership with the Department of Education, will develop energy-conscious and environmentally literate citizens through service projects, leadership, and activism, beginning with school students. Department of Education’s Curriculum Development Unit has designed the Greening our Schools program to get students to apply STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), creativity, and critical thinking to tackle environmental challenges that they may be facing within their own school environments.
Grant DPL00016: Conservation Fieldwork Mobility Support for North and Middle Caicos will supply a new field research vehicle badly needed for fieldwork related to ongoing Darwin Plus projects including DP114 Tropical Important Plant Areas and Important Plant Species in TCI and DP129 Understanding Ramsar wetland dynamics for marine conservation and environmental resilience. The previous project vehicle having served more than its natural lifetime, ground transportation on the two largest islands in TCI is essential for DECR to carry out project work and respond to environmental concerns on these very ecologically sensitive islands.
“I am pleased to see that our two first-time Darwin Plus Local grant applications have been approved” said Lormeka Williams, DECR Director, “Darwin Plus Local is an exciting new funding opportunity because unlike Darwin Plus, which usually involves large external partner organisations, this is a funding source just for the Overseas Territories. It is excellent for small community-based environmental projects and I intend to encourage our team and all of our keen nature enthusiasts to make best use of it”
Three additional Darwin Local projects were approved from organisations outside of TCI Government. TCI has seen excellent results from Darwin Plus Local grant’s Round One; Round Two has not yet been announced but more information, including eligibility of applicants and guidance on the application process, can be found at https://darwinplus.org.uk/apply/.
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