Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to support environmental sustainability in the Falkland Islands.

The UK Government continues to offer support and expertise to the Falkland Islands Government, which is responsible for protecting the natural environment of the Falkland Islands. During his visit to the Falkland Islands from 19 to 20 February, the Foreign Secretary saw at first hand the Islanders' work to protect their unique natural environment. The UK Government is providing two new packages of UK support: £50,000 of Darwin Plus funding to tackle wildfires through enhanced Vegetation Fire Training for Preparedness, Prevention, Response and Recovery; and £30,000 from the FCDO to support the Falkland Islands Government in the restoration of native tussac grass habitats. Both of these projects will contribute to protecting and improving the resilience of peat, critical for carbon storage and sequestration. The Ministry of Defence also works with the Falkland Islands Government on shared environmental priorities, including recycling and renewable energy generation.