Funding slim for Darwin`s Initiative
WHEN British Prime Minister John Major enunciated his so-called Darwin Initiative in an ostentatious announcement at the Rio Earth Summit in June, he could not have thought that his own government may not be ready to fund its sweeping provisions.
Major's proposal calls for an exhaustive study of international natural resources; sets goals for research; seeks to build up an inventory of the world's most important species and habitats; suggests building on Britain's reputed scientific and commercial strengths; and stresses on exchanging information.
But Major did not clarify how, in a recession-hit economic climate in his country, he would persuade his chancellor of the exchequer that saving the earth for future generations takes precedence over creating employment for out-of-work Britons.
Major's treasury officials have made it clear they want to limit funding for the Darwin Initiative to L2 million even though their counterparts at the department of environment estimate L10 million would be a more realistic figure. There is some speculation that some of the funding for the initiative may come from the pharmaceutical industry, which stands to benefit commercially from biodiversity projects.
British environment secretary Michael Howard has hailed the initiative, saying, "It was well prepared and carefully thought out." And, the government recently established an inter-departmental action group to work with interested organisations and individuals to work out how to implement the initiative.
None of this has convinced the New Scientist (Vol. 135 No. 1828) which noted most institutions seem wary of cooperating unless they have a clearer idea of the money and the credit they will get. It commented, "In fact, the Darwin Initiative is turning out to have been at best premature; at worst, verging on the stillborn."