DFID’s poverty reduction mandate means its primary environmental aim is to support sustainable use of natural resources, and equitable access to environmental assets for poverty reduction. DFID's policy paper on the environment describes our approach, and can be found at
www.dfid.gov.uk/mdg/environment.asp.
DFID does not have programmes dedicated to eco-tourism and environmental protection, but many of our programmes make a contribution to better environmental management, both globally and in developing countries. DFID's policy paper on the environment lists examples of these programmes.
DFID has supported a number of tourism related activities, through our Business Challenge Linkages Fund, which have focused on country level projects to improve labour standards and capacity building for small-scale suppliers to the tourism industry.
In addition, DFID country offices have committed £4.5 million on tourism related activities since 2000. Examples include: development of a Tourism Strategy for St. Helena (2005), creation of a botanical garden in Montserrat, and the implementation of a plan for biodiversity management and sustainable development around a Ramsar site in the Turks and Caicos Islands (2005).
DFID has funded research into the pro-poor potential of tourism development, at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the University of Kent, Canterbury.