UK aid cuts will cause untold damage, wildlife charities warn – as they fear for future of key programmes

Zebras by Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Tanzania-based conservation charity African People and Wildlife has told The Independent that it is already planning for drastically reduced revenues as a result of UK aid cuts - (Emmily Tunuka/APW)

UK conservation charities key to protecting wildlife around the world have warned that the government’s slashing of the international aid budget will have a dramatic impact – severely damaging a lifeline for fragile ecosystems as costs and cut and leaving many organisations fearing for the future.

With the UK cutting its overall foreign aid budget from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of gross national income (GNI), data shows support for nature and conservation is set to receive a particularly stark hit worth hundreds of millions of pounds. While the government has said it is committed to protecting nature and battling the climate crisis, The Independent has uncovered evidence that cuts are already having a devastating blow on conservation programmes.