Deadline: 15-Jun-2026
Darwin Plus Main is part of the UK government’s Biodiversity Challenge Funds managed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It supports medium to large-scale environmental projects that deliver measurable biodiversity conservation outcomes across the UK Overseas Territories. The programme focuses on protecting ecosystems, improving environmental quality, and strengthening local conservation capacity.
It is one of four Darwin Plus funding streams:
- Darwin Plus Local
- Darwin Plus Main
- Darwin Plus Strategic
- Darwin Plus People & Skills
Programme Objectives and Focus Areas
The programme supports projects that contribute to long-term environmental sustainability in UK Overseas Territories. Key focus areas include:
- Biodiversity conservation and habitat protection
- Climate change adaptation and resilience
- Environmental quality improvement
- Strengthening conservation capacity and skills
- Ecosystem restoration and species protection
- Sustainable natural resource management
- Environmental governance and policy strengthening
- Research and evidence generation for conservation
- Community and stakeholder engagement in conservation
Alignment with Policy and Global Frameworks
Projects must align with multiple environmental and policy frameworks, including:
- UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy (OTBS)
- National biodiversity and environmental priorities of each Territory
- Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Joint Ministerial Council Communiqués
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Funding Details
- Grant size: £50,000 to £1 million per project
- Project duration: 1 to 3 years
- Funding type: Environmental conservation and research support
- Focus: Tangible biodiversity and climate outcomes
Programme Expectations
Projects funded under Darwin Plus Main must:
- Deliver clear and measurable environmental outcomes
- Demonstrate strong local ownership and engagement
- Involve UKOT governments and civil society partners
- Support implementation of environmental strategies and action plans
- Strengthen environmental decision-making processes
- Present realistic and well-structured budgets
- Balance expenditure across the full project duration
Types of Supported Projects
The programme supports both practical and research-based initiatives, including:
- Biodiversity conservation interventions
- Climate adaptation and resilience projects
- Habitat restoration and ecosystem management
- Environmental monitoring and data collection
- Capacity building and training initiatives
- Policy development and environmental planning
- Community-based conservation programmes
- Applied environmental research with scaling potential
Local Ownership and Collaboration Requirements
A strong emphasis is placed on:
- Collaboration with UK Overseas Territory governments
- Engagement with local civil society organisations
- Inclusion of community stakeholders in project design and delivery
- Strengthening local environmental governance
- Building long-term institutional capacity within territories
Why This Programme Matters
Darwin Plus Main plays a critical role in protecting globally significant ecosystems found in UK Overseas Territories. These regions contain unique biodiversity and fragile habitats that require sustained conservation efforts. The programme ensures that funding supports both immediate environmental outcomes and long-term ecological resilience.
How the Programme Works
- Applicants design environmental or conservation-focused projects
- Projects must align with territorial and global biodiversity priorities
- Applications are submitted under Darwin Plus Main scheme
- Proposals are assessed for impact, feasibility, and strategic alignment
- Successful projects receive funding between £50,000 and £1 million
- Projects are implemented over 1–3 years
- Outcomes are monitored for environmental impact and sustainability
Link to Darwin Plus Strategic
Darwin Plus Strategic is a higher-value stream within the same programme structure. Compared to Darwin Plus Main, it places greater emphasis on:
- Large-scale transformational impact
- Replication across multiple UKOTs
- Cross-territory collaboration
- System-wide environmental solutions
- Mobilisation of knowledge and resources
- Innovative and scalable conservation approaches
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Weak alignment with UKOT biodiversity strategies or global frameworks
- Lack of local stakeholder engagement or government support
- Overly ambitious scope without realistic delivery plans
- Poorly structured or imbalanced budgets
- Insufficient focus on measurable environmental outcomes
- Limited evidence of sustainability beyond project duration
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly define measurable biodiversity and climate outcomes
- Demonstrate strong partnerships with local authorities and communities
- Align closely with territorial conservation priorities
- Provide robust scientific or technical justification
- Include practical implementation and monitoring plans
- Ensure budget realism and phased expenditure planning
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Darwin Plus Main?
- It is a UK government programme funding biodiversity and environmental projects in UK Overseas Territories
- It supports conservation, climate adaptation, and capacity building
- How much funding is available?
- Between £50,000 and £1 million per project
- What is the project duration?
- 1 to 3 years
- What types of projects are supported?
- Biodiversity conservation
- Climate resilience and adaptation
- Habitat restoration
- Environmental research and policy support
- Capacity building initiatives
- What must projects align with?
- UKOT Biodiversity Strategy
- Territorial environmental priorities
- SDGs and international biodiversity frameworks
Conclusion
Darwin Plus Main is a key funding programme supporting practical and research-driven environmental projects across UK Overseas Territories. By focusing on biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and local capacity building, it ensures long-term protection of some of the world’s most ecologically important and vulnerable ecosystems.
For more information, visit Darwin Plus.