“Intention to go ahead with the MPA is in place” says Lord Howell
05.07.2010 by chagosadminThe Chagos Environment Network (CEN) welcomes the government’s clear support for the Chagos Protected Area following a Parliamentary Question raised in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 29th June 2010.
Responding to a question by Lord Montgomery of Alamein, Lord Howell of Guildford, Minister of State with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), answered positively regarding developments of the Chagos Protected Area stating that “the intention to go ahead with the MPA [marine protected area] is in place”.
In the debate in the House of Commons just after the Chagos Protected Area was created and passed into legislation by the former government, but before the election, the protected area was welcomed by the Conservative spokesman, Keith Simpson.
“The territory’s quarter of a million square miles is Britain’s greatest area of marine biodiversity,” began Howell when asked about measures proposed to increase awareness of the environmental and scientific importance of the Chagos archipelago. “The territory’s administration will work with interested organisations and regional Governments to increase awareness of the environmental and scientific importance of the territory.”
When challenged about sufficient funding to ensure that illegal fishing was prevented throughout the reserve, Lord Howell replied that “the declaration of the marine protected area did not cost anything” but that “the overseas territories division is in discussion with a number of foundations and charities which have offered to meet that requirement for a five-year period” which will cover the cost of maintaining a patrol vessel for surveillance duties.
The Pew Environment Group, a member of the CEN is one such group engaging in discussions with the FCO on financial issues. The CEN is also hoping to assist the government by providing advice and support on the implementation, management and enforcement of the new Chagos Protected Area, and is making the case for the continued opportunities for conservation and science within the archipelago.
