A Bermudian environmental project will benefit from a 2.5 million cash boost from the British government this year.

And the Bermuda Zoological Society's biodiversity project will use part of the money it receives from the UK's Darwin Initiative to formulate a Biodiversity Strategic Action plan "to set realistic conservation objectives'' for the future.

Similar projects in twenty countries around the world will also benefit from the grant programme, which is now in its eighth year of funding world-wide work to safeguard biological diversity. A press release from the Deputy Governor's office this week explained that the projects "will last for three years and will team up UK experts with organisations from countries as far flung as Mongolia and Mauritius.

"The new projects are just as diverse,'' it continued, "and include work to conserve big, mammals, small invertebrates, tropical rain forests and soil biodiversity.

"Some of the world's hot spots, such as the Galapagos Islands, Malaysia and Madagascar will get financial aid, as will neglected areas in Mongolia and Ghana.

Bermuda's share of the budget will be used in developing a Biodiversity Strategic Action plan for the Island.

The press release explained: "Through a process of community-side consensus building, this plan will aim to set realistic conservation targets and establish a series of prioritised positions for achieving these.'' "In the process, the Bermuda Zoological Society hopes to raise community awareness and promote widespread participation in conservation activities in Bermuda,'' it added.

Bermuda Biodiversity Project leader Annie Glasspool said she welcomed the news and added that she saw this grant as representing a significant commitment on the part of the UK Government "to promote the conservation of Bermuda's natural heritage''.

She noted: "The grant is a further reflection of the growing international reputation of the Bermuda Zoological Society as well as a reflection of the outstanding community support for this organisation.

Britain's environment minister Michael Meacher said at the Natural History Museum in London: "The Darwin Initiative has been a spectacular success.

Biodiversity partnerships are being built between leading experts in the UK and abroad.''