Fantastic news! Your taxpayer cash is at work! Defra is here to save the day…

The Government has today committed £100 million to international forestry projects which provide specific benefits for biodiversity.

The money comes from the new international climate finance included in the Comprehensive Spending Review, which will include new money for the UK’s contribution to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), a programme which aims to prevent the loss of forests in developing countries.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman confirmed the money will help fund pioneering projects which focus on delivering benefits for the natural environment such as reducing the destruction of habitats and the loss of plants and animals through tackling the fragmentation and degradation of forests. This will help demonstrate how money for international climate finance can best deliver additional benefits – this is critical if climate, biodiversity and development objectives are to be tackled together.

Speaking at the Nagoya conference in Japan, where 193 countries are setting new targets to protect the natural environment, Mrs Spelman said…..yadda yadda yadda

Japan? Did they all row there in bio-eco-sustainable-recyclable tofu boats? Or fly there in jets?

The funds will help developing countries achieve sustainable, low-carbon development and prepare for the effects of climate change. Last week, the UK government announced that it will provide international climate finance of £2.9bn from 2010/11 to 2014/2015 of which this £100m is a part.

Wait wait wait…was that £2.9bn? Yes it was, folks.

The UK is working with other governments at the biodiversity conference in Nagoya, and the climate change conference in Cancun, to ensure that the aims of tackling climate change, reducing global poverty and protecting and improving the natural environment are linked to ensure all three objectives are met.

Aaargh.