New EU support for biodiversity in the region |20 August 2012

The projects target sustainable management of regional biodiversity resources and ecosystem services. South-East Africa and the Indian Ocean are endowed with richness in species. But the countries of the region are also struggling with degradation and depletion of their natural resources caused mainly by the expansion of human population and economic development.

In response, the regions have set up two biodiversity projects which the EU is going to support with a total of €29 million. The goal is to sustainably manage and exploit the natural assets of the regions to the advantage of its people.

Specifically, the projects aim to reduce illegal harvesting and trade of precious natural resources such as endemic plants, coral and animal species.

They will call on civil society to propose innovative projects, for instance to foster eco-tourism or improve waste management.