Announcements
Dated Item
14/06/2018 Future news items will be on our new web site (https://www.ukotcf.org.uk)
All future news items will appear on our new website (https://www.ukotcf.org.uk/Pages/News/Category/news/) , rather than here, although this original site will remain available as an archive and certain other roles.
Users of certain old devices (especially early ipads and iphones) may need to use "Menu for old systems", rather than the main menu, to navigate around the new site.
06/05/2018 Good progress at UKOT/CD Environment Ministers Council meeting in Isle of Man
Ministers and senior officials from UKOTs and CDs met in the Isle of Man to discuss on 6th and 7th February the future of the environment in their jurisdictions.
Further information in the Isle of Man Government's press release.
06/05/2018 Forum News 48 available
Articles include:
3rd Council of UKOT/CD Environment Ministers * Update from Montserrat initiatives * UK Government’s 25-year environment plan * World Heritage Site restoration on Gough Island * Team Rat back to South Georgia * Cayman Islands Land Reserve Fund drive * Coral reefs in peril * Blue Belt publication for schools
and more...
06/05/2018 UKOT/CD Environment Ministers, Isle of Man, video
A 7-minute video reporting the 3rd UKOT/CD Environment Ministers Council meeting, in the Isle of Man, is now available here. The meeting agreed a statement, available in pdf format and MS Word.
06/05/2018 St Helena joins UKOTCF Virtual Tours
The virtual tour for St Helena, is now availableat the Virtual Tour page here, joining those for British Indian Ocean Territory, Jersey, Alderney,Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas, British Virgin Islands, Ascension Island, Montserrat, Pitcairn and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Others will be joining them progressively over the coming months.

All tours are likely to be extended and updated over time, and comments and suggestions are welcome.
26/09/2021 Statement from 3rd UKOT/CD Environment Ministers Council
The 3rd UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Environment Council Meeting, in the Isle of Man, 6th-7th February 2018, has agreed a statement, available in pdf format and MS Word.
09/05/2024 UKOT/CD Environment Ministers Council in Isle of Man
Ministers and senior officials from UKOTs and CDs will travel to the Isle of Man to discuss on 6th and 7th February the future of the environment in their jurisdictions.
Further information in the Isle of Man Government's press release. Know More
26/09/2021 BIOT & Jersey join UKOTCF Virtual Tours
The virtual tours for the British Indian Ocean Territory, and Jersey are now availableat the Virtual Tour page here, joining those for Alderney,Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas, British Virgin Islands, Ascension Island, Montserrat, Pitcairn and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Others will be joining them progressively over the coming months.

All tours are likely to be extended and updated over time, and comments and suggestions are welcome.
02/05/2018 Forum News 47 - Latest Edition
Issue 47 - October 2017 - available for download. This issue includes reports on the "Saving Our Special Nature of Montserrat" project progress; 2nd Meeting of UKOT & CD Environment Ministers; UK Overseas Territories EU Brexit Talks - and more....
12/06/2017 2016-2017 Annual Report.
The 14-page 2016-2017 Annual Report is now available for download.

Most activity this year has been focused on delivering on-the- ground projects and providing networking opportunities, to ensure information ow and identify gaps for deploying resources that can be secured.
06/11/2017 Bermuda Minister reflects on Alderney & ministers' meeting
Hon. Sylvan Richards MP, Minister of Environment, Government of Bermuda, interviewed in Alderney here.
09/05/2024 Environment Ministers from the UK’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies call on UK Government to meet its commitments
UKOT & CD Environment Ministers or equivalents have issued a statement resulting from their meeting in Alderney, Channel Islands: full news item here. Just Statement as pdf here or as MS Word here .
08/11/2017 Video from UKOT/CD environment ministers meeting
The first videos from this meeting on 27-28 April in Alderney are now available here. Hon. Sylvan Richards MP, Minister of Environment, Government of Bermuda, interviewed in Alderney here.
09/05/2017 First report of UKOT/CD Environment Ministers Meeting
Representatives from 13 UK Overseas Territories (UKOT) and Crown Dependencies met on 27-28 April in Alderney,to discuss actions to sustain the environment in these uniquely important wildlife areas. UKOTCF is pleased to have been asked to help organise the meeting. First report of discussions
06/11/2017 Alderney joins UKOTCF Virtual Tours
Linked with the UKOT/CD Environment Ministers meeting (see below), a Virtual Tour for Alderney is now available at the Virtual Tour page here , then click "Alderney"
06/11/2017 UKOT/CD Environment Ministers meet in Alderney
Representatives from 11 UK Overseas Territories (UKOT) and Crown Dependencies meet on 27-28 April in Alderney,to discuss actions to sustain the environment in these uniquely important wildlife areas. They will be joined for the second day by a representative of UK Government. UKOTCF is pleased to have been asked to help organise the meeting. States of Alderney press release

07/10/2017 Forum News 46 - Special Edition!
In this 56 page edition, we ask: 30 years of the Forum – what have we achieved?
What makes UKOTCF unique? We are the only organisation whose sole focus is nature and heritage conservation, environmental education and sustainable use across all UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) and Crown Dependencies (CDs).......
30/05/2018 Links to UKOTCF & other UKOT videos
UKOTCF's Environmental Education Coordinator, Ann Pienkowski has taken a great deal of video of UKOTs over several years for several purposes, and some was used by Stewart McPherson to fill gaps in coverage for his shorts. Ann is now editing her material for wider use. The first two, on Montserrat and Grand Turk, are already available. The title above links to those, as well to the Britain's Treasure Islands shorts. Best Camping Tents
09/05/2024 UKOT/CD Environment Ministers Council in Isle of Man
Ministers and senior officials from UKOTs and CDs will travel to the Isle of Man to discuss on 6th and 7th February the future of the environment in their jurisdictions.
Further information in the Isle of Man Government's press release.
16/03/2017 Forum News - Latest Edition
Issue 45 of Forum News is now available. "UKOTCF completes collation of information from territories reviewing progress in implementing the Environment Charters and towards the Aichi Targets and related Sustainable Development Goals"
12/06/2017 2015-2016 Annual Report
The 14-page 2015-2016 Annual Report is now available for download.
06/11/2017 New project for Montserrat
May 2016 saw a series of meetings and planning activity in Montserrat, supported by others in UK and USA, to set up a new 2-year project Maximising long-term survival prospects of Montserrat’s endemic species and ecosystem-serv- ices. The project is part-funded by UK Government’s Darwin Plus: Overseas Territories Environment & Climate Fund, and is a partnership coordinated by UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF). Other project partners include: Montserrat Government (Department of Environment; DoE); Montserrat National Trust (MNT); Treweek Environmental Consultants; and Montana State University, USA (MSU).
Full announcement
(2 page pdf)
31/05/2016 Progress for Environment Charters and Aichi Targets
UKOTCF has published the latest review, collated from territory information, of progress in implementing the Environment Charters (or equivalents) and towards Aichi Targets.
28/12/2016 New Montserrat video
Just in time for St Patrick’s Day (a national holiday in Montserrat, part of its Irish heritage), the first of UKOTCF’s new in-house short videos by Ann Pienkowski is now at the link above.
07/10/2017 Forum News Latest Edition: No 44
24 page edition including full reports and photographs covering "Sustaining Partnerships: a conference on conservation and sustainability in UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small island communities, Gibraltar, 11th to 15th July 2015."

Also: Booking information for the event on the making of Stewart McPherson’s TV series (to be broadcast on BBC TV) on the wildlife of the UKOTs.

28/12/2016 Proceedings of 2015 Gibraltar Conference
Gibraltar hosted an international environmental conference "Sustaining Partnerships" from 11th to 15th July 2015, with a focus on UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small islands. This was organised by UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum and HM Government of Gibraltar’s Department of the Environment and Climate Change, with the support of Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society.

The Proceedings of the 2015 Conference Sustaining Partnerships are now available for download from here. Also available from the same page are the conclusions and recommendations and other reports and videos.
22/11/2019
Second in the "Birding in Paradise" series, this guide booklet on bird-watching and other heritage features in Montserrat has been published by UKOTCF in association with its partner, the Montserrat National Trust, in October 2015.

Copies can be purchased online, either as printed versions sent by post, or as downloadable pdf versions, designed to suit tablets but readable on computers and any other device that can read pdf files.
01/02/2016 Gibraltar conference recommendations by target group
Recommendations from "Sustaining Partnerships" on Conservation and Sustainability in the UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small island communities now available for UKOT/CD Governments
UK Government
NGOs
Other funding bodies
Private Sector & Utilities

30/12/2015 Gibraltar conference conclusions & recommendations
Conclusions and recommendations from "Sustaining Partnerships" on Conservation and Sustainability in the UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small island communities now available
26/09/2021 Relive the Gibraltar 2015 conference
Participants in the conference generated an almost instant thread on social media. Summaries and stages towards proceedings are being put up on this web site as they have been produced, and this will continue over coming weeks and months as other outputs are ready. You can relive parts of the conference (at a less hectic pace than the original) or get a flavour if you were unable to attend) via video clips which are being assembled over coming days and weeks replica watches uk. Links will be added to this news item, so check periodically. Those currently available are:
Sat 11th July - Opening - 1. Meet & Greet
Sat 11th July - Opening - 2. Gibraltar Ministers' Welcome
Sat 11th July - Opening - 3. UKOTCF response and welcome
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner - 1. The only place in Europe where two free-living primate species meet
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner inside the Rock - 2. Arrival at St Michael's Cave
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner inside the Rock - 3. Speech Hon Dr Joe Bossano, Minister of Economic Development
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner inside the Rock - 4. Speech Hon Dr John Cortes, Minister of Health, Environment, Energy & Climate Change
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner inside the Rock - 5. Gibraltar Regiment Core of Drums
More details
Best Trampoline
08/12/2015 Gibraltar conference in progress!
The 2015 Conference "Sustaining Partnerships" on Conservation and Sustainability in the UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small island communities - is under way.
06/07/2016 UKOTCF 2015 Annual Report
2014-2015: 12-page Annual Report is now available for download.
06/11/2017 Virtual Tours of the Territories
The virtual tour for the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas and Ascension Island are now available, joining those for British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Others will be joining them progressively over the coming months.

All tours are likely to be extended and updated over time, and comments and suggestions are welcome.
16/03/2015 Forum News 43 - Download
Full details on "Sustaining Partnerships: a conference on conservation and sustainability in UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small island communities" - Gibraltar, 11th to 15th July 2015
Plus articles on:

  • UKOTCF Montserrat workshop on Environmental Impact Assessment

  • UKOTCF and TCI National Museum open Wise-Water-Use Garden

  • Guide-books for bird-watching and other heritage- sites published – on sale in TCI and by mail or download from UKOTCF

  • Montserrat Endangered Archives Project Launch; Montserrat Endangered Archives Project Launch; Wetlands Preserved on Cayman Brac....

.... and much more....
01/09/2022 Relive the Gibraltar 2015 conference
Participants in the conference generated an almost instant thread on social media. Summaries and stages towards proceedings are being put up on this web site as they have been produced, and this will continue over coming weeks and months as other outputs are ready. You can relive parts of the conference (at a less hectic pace than the original) or get a flavour if you were unable to attend) via video clips which are being assembled over coming days and weeks Love My Trampoline. Links will be added to this news item, so check periodically. Those currently available are:
Sat 11th July - Opening - 1. Meet & Greet
Sat 11th July - Opening - 2. Gibraltar Ministers' Welcome
Sat 11th July - Opening - 3. UKOTCF response and welcome
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner - 1. The only place in Europe where two free-living primate species meet
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner inside the Rock - 2. Arrival at St Michael's Cave
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner inside the Rock - 3. Speech Hon Dr Joe Bossano, Minister of Economic Development
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner inside the Rock - 4. Speech Hon Dr John Cortes, Minister of Health, Environment, Energy & Climate Change
Wed 15th July - Closing Dinner inside the Rock - 5. Gibraltar Regiment Core of Drums
More details
17/12/2014 Web-site and emails
We apologise that there have been far too many occasions in late 2014 when this web-site has been down, and also some occasions when emails to @ukotcf.org addresses have been bouncing or simply disappearing.

In mid-December, we changed our internet service provider and we are pleased that the web-site is fully operational again.

The temporary fault with @ukotcf.org addresses has now been cured. However, emails sent between about noon GMT on 16th Dec and about 16:00 GMT on 17th Dec (and not copied to a non-ukotcf.org address) have not been received. We would appreciate people sending these again. An erratic and small proportion of earlier emails appear not to have been received also. If you have not received an expected reply in reasonable time (or if your message bounced) please email again. Thank you.
14/09/1930 2013-2014 Annual Report
The 12-page 2013-2014 Annual Report is now available for download.
09/09/2014 UKOT/CD Gibraltar Conservation Conference 2015 announced
Following many requests from the territories, UKOTCF and HM Government of Gibraltar are delighted to announce that the next UKOTCF conference will be held in Gibraltar in July 2015. More details
02/08/2014 Forum News Latest Edition 42 now available.
- Includes news of Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee report and follow-up.
Lead article: "Launch of Wise Water Use for Gardens project
in Turks & Caicos Islands" Read more
15/02/2016 Workshop on EAC's report published
On 16th January UKOTCF hosted a workshop to discuss some of the points in the UK Parliaments Environment Audit Committee report (see item below Workshop with EAC to encourage protection of biodiversity).

All participants found both the EAC report and the workshop on it very positive, and hope that both can assist the UK Government in delivering
its important responsibility to conservation and sustainability in the UK Overseas Territories. The full meeting report can be viewed here

22/11/2019 Workshop with EAC to encourage protection of biodiversity

UKOTCF, today hosted a workshop with the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee to encourage UK Government to protect threatened UK biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories. Read more

10/09/2013 2012-2013 Annual Report
The 10 page UKOTCF Annual Report in colour is now available for download.Read more
12/08/2013 Forum News Latest Edition 41 now available.
Now available. Leading article: "Management of Marine Resources in Gibraltar’s Waters".

Also:
  • Demonstrating conservation and effective use of water in the Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Ascension frigate bird breeds again on main island
  • New plant species discovered on Anegada
  • Threats to biodiversity and the community on Sark
  • Follow-up to the UKOTs White Paper: UKOTCF workshop and UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry
  • Environment Charters are legally binding agreements

....and more...
08/12/2015 Management of Marine Resources in Gibraltar’s Waters
This topic has been of great concern in recent years, with much unauthorised cross-border fishing activity taking place. The Government of Gibraltar (HMGoG) decided to address this by securing hard evidence and a clear independent scientific analysis of the situation by qualified experts, one of whom would also chair the working group participating in this study. HMGoG sought UKOTCF’s advice and commissioned this via the latter, although neither HMGoG nor UKOTCF as an organisation influenced the report. The report and a statement by HMGoG were published on 4 June 2013.

The main conclusions are that:

  • the basis for Gibraltar's environmental protection laws are sound;
  • information currently available is insufficient to provide clear results on the state of fish stocks;
  • HMGoG should therefore continue to act in keeping with established precautionary principles of conservation and pursue active management of the marine environment; and
  • future changes to environmental management must be dependent on these issues.

UKOTCF is pleased to note that HMGoG is planning to act rapidly in response to this report with a strategy of measures in order to improve monitoring systems whilst nurturing and enabling the sustainable use of the habitats naturally surrounding Gibraltar.

21/06/2013 UKOTCF continues to support major conservation project in three Caribbean UKOTs
In 2003, at the request of UKOTs and the British Government, UKOTCF drafted and co-ordinated an application to the European Union for a project to conserve important areas and stimulate sustainable use of them to help provide livelihoods for local people: “Management of Protected Areas to Support Sustainable Economies” (MPASSE).It took seven years to work through European Commission procedures but, in 2010-11, grant contracts were issued to the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, the National Parks Trust of the [British] Virgin Islands, and the Turks & Caicos National Trust, with UKOTCF continuing to give scientific and environmental advice (see Forum News 37:1-5, December 2010 here).

As the project moves into its final 18 months, the 9th international Project Steering Committee meeting was held in June 2013, reported here by TCI’s Channel 4 News.

04/02/2013 UKOTCF article on MPASSE project published
We have neglected our past and present, so that the future of our natural and built heritage is uncertain. Recent and current work, including an EU-supported joint project between the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos National Trust and UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum, are providing a future for natural and historical assets.

The full abstract and article is available in the Journal of Heritage Tourism.

Full citation: To Hell and Back: towards protecting our natural assets through tourism? (Wensink, C.M & Pienkowski, M.W (2013) Journal of Heritage Tourism Vol. 8, 89-98

23/12/2012 UKOTCF helps secure funding for reef conservation
UKOTCF is pleased to have been able to facilitate Grenadine Escape Ltd providing continuing support for conservation by the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund
13/12/2012 Proceedings of workshop on White Paper now available
On 2nd October 2012 UKOTCF organised a workshop, with a wide range of participants from Britain and the UKOTs, to discuss aspects of UK Government’s 2012 White Paper which affect the environment and how to move forward from this. The Proceedings are now available.

This workshop follows on from workshops organised by UKOTCF in 2010 and 2011 on biodiversity strategies, trying to complement the UK Government biodiversity 'strategy' for UKOTs – which was really a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UK ministries, rather than a strategy – and attempting to relate this to other commitments, such as the Environment Charters and the Aichi Targets. The reports of these workshops are available at the links to the years above.

The 2012 workshop arose from concerns that the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum network believes exist with the environmental aspects of UK Government’s White Paper The Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Sustainability (Cm 8374)

Following the publication of the White Paper, UKOTCF put considerable effort into analysing the White Paper and produced a review and a look at priority needs.

14/08/2012 UKOTCF analysis of White Paper on UKOTs
UKOTCF and its partners have analysed in depth the environmental aspects
of the UK Government's White Paper on UK Overseas Territories. A
shortened, preliminary version of this was published in Forum News 40.
As indicated in Forum News, the full version is available here
18/09/2012 2011-2012 Annual Report
The 16 page UKOTCF Annual Report covering the period April 2011 to March 2012 - in colour - is now available for download.
09/08/2012 Forum News Latest Edition: Issue 40

Colour version (2Mb). Leading article: "Moving Backwards in Conservation of the UK Overseas Territories: Comments by UKOTCF on UK Government’s White Paper” Also including:


  • W(h)ither BEST? UKOTs written out of future funding?
  • Environmental initiatives by Gibraltar’s new Government
  • The importance and vulnerability of woody species and habitats in the UKOTs
  • Bermuda Ombudsman underlines that Environmental Charters are binding, confirming that Bermuda Government acted unlawfully
  • UKOTCF/TCI “Wonderful Water” curriculum and courses in place in Turks & Caicos schools
  • The Convention on Biological Diversity and the Isle of Man
  • UKOTCF Virtual Tours

.....and a lot more!

12/06/2012 Virtual tours of territories
The virtual tour for the British Virgin Islands is now available, joining those for Montserrat, Pitcairn and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Others will be joining them progressively over the coming months.

All tours are likely to be extended and updated over time, and comments and suggestions are welcome.

10/01/2012 Forum News Latest Edition: Issue 39
Hi-res full colour version (3Mb). Leading article: "Main points of UKOTCF’s submission to UK Government on its UKOT White Paper". Also including:
  • "When is national heritage not national heritage?"
  • "Still paving Paradise?"
  • Bonaire: a year living and working in the Dutch Caribbean
  • New UKOTCF Council Members elected at the AGM
  • New UKOTCF Associate: the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust
  • A visit to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica
.....and a lot more!
10/01/2012 One-off 2-for-the-price-of-1 offer for February 2012 trip
One-off 2-for-the-price-of-1 offer for February 2012 trip Ushuaia-Falklands-South Georgia-Antarctic Peninsula-Ushuaia

There are a limited number of two-for-the-price-of-one places on the 4-22 February 2012 trip on Oceanwide Expeditions’ new ice-strengthened vessel Ortelius. See a description of this voyage (on MV Plancius) in Forum News 39.
For details of the trip, see www.oceanwide-expeditions.com . To enquire about take-up, contact m@pienkowski.org or Oceanwide Expeditions, mentioning UKOTCF.

02/01/2012 UKOTCF's submission to UK Government consultation
The consultation will be used by UK Government to help inform the strategy as it prepares the publication of a new White Paper in 2012, which will set out in detail the Government’s approach to the Overseas Territories. UKOTF welcome this opportunity to contribute to a fresh look at how best to protect and improve the well-being of these far-flung parts of the British family.
Read the full submission here
21/10/2011 Latest Forum News - Issue 38
20 page edition - headline article "UKOTCF works with TCI bodies to develop education courses and conserve wetlands"
21/07/2011 2011 Annual Report
The 16 page UKOTCF Annual Report covering the period April 2010 to March 2011 - in colour - is now available for download.
17/12/2010 Forum News 37
Now available as download - 28 pages in full colour.
12/10/2010 Visits to UKOTs in the South Atlantic
Interested in visiting either the UK Overseas Territories of South Georgia, the British Antarctic Territory and the Falkland Islands? or participating in an 'Atlantic Odyssey' expedition cruise to the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, St Helena and Ascension Island?

Oceanwide Expeditions' MV Plancius tours these islands (several times each year in the southern summer for various combinations of South Georgia, the British Antarctic Territory and the Falkland Islands, and once per year in about March for the Atlantic Odyssey. Oceanwide Expeditions is a Corporate partner of UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF).

UK specialist wildlife tour operator 'The Travelling Naturalist' has agreed with UKOTCF to donate 10% of the cost of the above cruises booked with them to support UKOTCF's work in support of nature conservation in UK's Overseas Territories. This will be at no extra cost to the persons booking.
06/09/2010 OTEP project applications 2010
UKOTCF has now received from FCO/DFID the details and forms for the 2010-11 OTEP round, and these are on the OTEP part of our web-site.
25/08/2010 Annual Report 2009-2010
The 16 page Annual Report covering the period April 2009 to March 2010 in colour is now available for download.
20/07/2010 Number 10 is missing!
All back issues of Forum News back to 1989 - except No 10 -are now available as PDFs. Does anyone have a copy of No 10 (late 1994)? If so please contact Catherine Wensink email: cwensink@ukotcf.org
21/06/2010 Forum News 36
Latest issue (June 2010) - 20 pages and images in full colour - available for download.
28/01/2010 'Making the Right Connections'
Full Proceedings now available for this conference on conservation in UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small island communities - Grand Cayman 30th May to 5th June 2009.

Proceedings are now available online - either as an 11Mb PDF or in 13 separate smaller sections.
27/09/2021 Environment Charters Review
Measures of performance by 2009 of UK Overseas Territories (& Crown Dependencies) and UK Government in implementing the 2001 Environment Charters or their equivalents.
Read More
01/01/2010 Forum News 35
24 page latest issue (December 2009) with colour images is available for download.
28/09/2009 OTEP Application Forms 2009/2010
OTEP application forms for the next round are now available in the OTEP section of the site, together with information and guidance notes.

OTEP Applications >>
11/09/2009 Latest Annual Report
The UKOTCF annual report for 2008-2009, covering the period April to March, is now published and can be downloaded in colour from the Annual Report page.
Annual Reports >>
04/08/2009 Environmental Education Resources
As part of UKOTCF's project on Environmental Education Linked Across Territories, partly supported by OTEP, a new module is now available on the Forum's web-database. This brings together information on environmental education resources which may be suitable (or easily adaptable) for use in a particular Territory, thereby reducing development costs and re-inventing of the wheel. This will be expanded progressively.
11/07/2009 Forum News 34
The 20 page issue 34 of Forum News is published in July and is available for download in colour. Articles include; Cayman Conference, Support in Parliament, New Council Members, Post-2010 vision in Europe, OTEP projects 2009 and more.....

Download >> (1.4Mb)
11/06/2009 'Making the Right Connections' conference - first report
The first report of the conference includes: the speech by UK Minister for Biodiversity, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, with important announcements on new funding potential; speeches by the Cayman Islands Leader of Government Business and by the Minister of Environment; and brief summaries of the conference sessions.
First Report - PDF
17/03/2009 Discussions!
The discussion fora are now linked from the UKOTCF site on the LH menu. These fora have been developed as part of the OTEP funded project, Environmental Education linked across territories. They provide an opportunity for anyone with an interest in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to share information and ideas.
Discussion Fora >>
04/02/2009 'Making the Right Connections' - Deadline for bookings.
The main deadline has passed for bookings for this conference on conservation to be held in Grand Cayman, May/June 2009. However, we will do our best to fulfil further booking requests.

Although the costs may be higher because of both time-limitations on concessional accommodation rates and changes in exchange rates, potential participants should fill in and submit the form without delay. They will be advised of any price change and invited to take a decision on this before payment is taken.

14/11/2008 Press Release: Environmental Audit Committee Report
In a report published this week, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) slammed the Government's failure to protect the globally important wildlife of the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs)2. The Committee concluded that The Government has a clear moral and legal duty to help protect that biodiversity of the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, where it is the eleventh hour for many species.
Press Release
Full House of Commons Report
29/10/2008 Forum News 33
The 20 page issue 33 of Forum News is published late Oct/ early November and is available for download in colour.
Download >> (1.2Mb)
20/10/2008 Hurricane Omar
"Anguilla on the way to full recovery"
On 16th October a category 3 hurricane hit Anguilla. The restoration efforts in the wake of Hurricane Omar are proceeding well and the country is on track for a full recovery shortly.
We would like to wish the people of Anguilla well during this time and hope for a speedy recovery.

Statement from Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming
Links:
Government of Anguilla Website
Caribbean Storm Updates
01/10/2008 OTEP Applications - 2009
Call for OTEP project bids for projects starting in 2009 now out. The application form and guidance notes are available as WORD downloads from the OTEP Applications page.
22/09/2008 Annual Report 2008
The UKOTCF Annual Report - with colour images - for the period 2007-2008 now available for PDF download....

All Reports...

17/09/2008 Forum News 32 Now Out...
Amongst many other articles, this 24 page edition of The Forum News has details of the 2009 Conference on conservation "Making the Right Connections".
20/09/2008 'Making the Right Connections'
The Cayman Islands will host an international environmental conference from 30th May to 5th June 2009, with a focus on UK Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other small islands. The conference is organised by: UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum, with the support of the Overseas Territories Environment Programme, and hosted by the Cayman Islands conservation bodies.
01/09/2007 2006/7 Annual Report
This report, recently been produced, details UKOTCF activities over the last year and is available for download.
26/03/2007 Enhancing Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change - Caribbean UK Overseas Territories
Enhancing Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean UK Overseas
Territories: the UK Department for International Development has made available this
Project Memorandum between itself and the Caribbean Community Climate Change
Centre (CCCCC), to support involvement by the UK Overseas Territories in the
Caribbean with the regional programmes of CCCCC.
26/06/2008 Forum News 30
The February 2007 edition contains articles on:
  • Middle Caicos Conservation Centre
  • South Atlantic Invasive Species Project
  • Seabirds on Ascension Island
  • Cayman Islands Bat Conservation....
.... and more. Plus OTEP news, of course.
01/09/2006 Jersey Conference 2006
The Proceedings from this conference entitled "Biodiversity that Matters" are now available in PDF format in a number of files ranging from 200k to 4.6M in size.
01/07/2007 UKOTCF publishes first review of progress on the Environment Charters
"Measures of performance by 2007 of UKOTs and UK Government in implementing the 2001 Environment Charters or their equivalents" is now available to download (PDF 262Kb)
09/09/2008 OTEP Awards - 2008
The 2008 award list is now available - as well as an updated list of all awards by territory.
15/09/2008 UKOTCF Domain Name
Apologies to anyone recently trying to access this site and being re-directed to to a web-hosting and domain name registration company in the USA! This was due to an administrative error on the part of our ISP and, once the UKOTCF.org domain has re-propagated round the web - which may take up to 48hrs - should not occur again.
10/09/2008 Forum News 31
20 page edition - leading article: "Conference identifies tourism development as a major threat to regionally endangered species".
08/01/2007 Natural History of Tristan da Cunha
This 44-page photographically illustrated book, by Paul Tyler and Alison Rothwell, was produced by UKOTCF to make the scientific results of the Darwin Initiative project on biodiversity conservation in Tristan available for use by the island's school.
30/10/2006 UKOTCF/OTEP
UKOTCF comments on the review of OTEP and on the OTEP Secretariat response.
Link to the report itself
28/09/2006 Forum News 29.
The September edition now out.
01/12/2006 Biodiversity that Matters
A conference on conservation in the UK Overseas Territories and other small island communities: Jersey, October 2006.
Conference summary available NOW.
28/09/2006 Annual Report 2005/06
This report has recently been produced on UKOTCF activities over the last year. on UKOTCF activities over the last year.. This report has recently been produced on UKOTCF activities over the last year. on UKOTCF activities over the last year.. This report has recently been produced on UKOTCF activities over the last year. on UKOTCF activities over the last year..

This report has recently been produced on UKOTCF activities over the last year. on UKOTCF activities over the last year..

30/09/2006 OTEP call for bids
OTEP 3rd-round call for bids and updated form. OTEP 3rd-round call for bids and updated form.
The UKOTCF is a Registered Charity (1058483) - keen to develop partnerships with business or commercial organisations