Catherine Wensink

UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum

The UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) exists to promote the co-ordinated conservation of the diverse and increasingly threatened plant and animal species and natural habitats of UK's Overseas Territories (UKOTs) and Crown Dependencies. It aims to do this by providing assistance in the form of expertise, information and liaison between non- governmental organisations and governments, both in the UK and in the Territories themselves. Founded in 1996, the Forum has gained worldwide support and recognition as being the best source of information and expertise on conservation in UK's Overseas Territories by both Governmental and non-governmental organisations. Forum Priorities: To raise public awareness about the wealth of biodiversity in UKOTs, and potential threats To facilitate the implementation of international conservation conventions To promote compilations of existing data, surveys of biodiversity and ecological studies, to inform plans for sustainable use and conservation To assist the development of biodiversity targets and action plans to achieve these for each UKOT To network information amongst UK and its Overseas Territories conservation groups, governments, educators and environmentalists To support conservation groups in the UKOTs, and to publicise conservation activities and successes To facilitate design and management of projects To seek funding for projects in the UKOTs and for Forum activities